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TORONTO – Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger. St. Louis was all that and more for most of a cold March night. They dealt the sliding Leafs their sixth straight loss – seven in the past eight games – and a very loud exit from the current playoff picture. Once on firm ground toward a second straight trip to the postseason, Toronto now sits 10th in the East, trailing Columbus and Detroit for the final two wild card spots with only eight games left to play. Skidding for nearly two weeks without even a single point they are in danger of fumbling away what seemed like a sure thing. Fear of that reality, it seems, is slowly infecting the group. "Well, certainly were afraid of letting it slip away," Joffrey Lupul conceded after a 5-3 loss to the Blues, the Leafs winless since Mar. 13. "The whole year we thought we were a playoff team and we still believe that now." At this moment, however, they are not. And what once seemed unthinkable as recently as two weeks prior when they stormed through California has now become a very real reality. The Leafs may not make the playoffs and they know it. And that fear of fumbling it away is driving the nerves of a flailing group. Head coach Randy Carlyle observed "tenseness" during the first half of Wednesdays game, one that saw St. Louis completely manhandle their sinking opponents, especially so in a dominant first frame. Big, hard, fast and strong, the best team in the West controlled possession of the puck almost without exception, peppering Jonathan Bernier with 23 shots while scoring the first two of four unanswered. "Its like we were frozen for 30 minutes of the hockey game," Carlyle said. "We didnt pick up the puck and skate with it at all. And thats showing signs of being nervous, tense, [lacking] confidence, not wanting to make a mistake which led to more offensive zone time [for the Blues]." Only when the score tilted at 4-1 did they start to push back and in a well-repeated theme, muster the kind of tenaciousness and enthusiasm required for winning at this time of year. Carl Gunnarsson and James van Riemsdyk scored to slice the deficit to one, but like those rallies in each of the previous five losses, the Leafs ultimately ran out of time. Desperation was just a little too late. "Right now it seems like when we get down then were playing with no fear," Lupul said. "Theres something to be said about being down and not having that fear anymore, but realistically weve got to play like that right from the start. Its more of a psychological thing than it is a physical thing for sure." Whether they can overcome that imposing mental hurdle and recover in time to make the playoffs remains an increasingly uncertain question. With stumbling starts, glaring defensive breakdowns, inconsistent offence and poor goaltending, theyve found ways to lose hockey games in rapid order and are feeling the pressure from it. Losing six straight for the first time since the infamous 18-wheeler collapse in 2012, the Leafs now they sit on the outside of the playoff picture with a daunting weekend set ahead against the Flyers and Red Wings. Their fate could be determined in a matter of days. "Theres reason for concern, but its not completely time to panic," Lupul said. "Were still right there. Weve got a game Friday, we play Detroit [on] Saturday, you win those two games and all of a sudden things look a lot different." Five Points: 1. Berniers Back Even Bernier – making his first start since Mar. 13 – couldnt rescue the Leafs from the Blues. And he tried. The 25-year-old was spectacular early on, turning away the first 20 St. Louis shots in a one-sided opening frame. He eventually ceded four goals on 48 shots. It was just his third loss in regulation when facing 40 shots or more (8-3-2). Bernier had missed the previous five games with a groin injury, rushing back to stabilize the Leafs wobbling crease. "Lot of work, but felt okay," he said afterward. Stretching constantly, in between whistles and during TV timeouts, Bernier was seemingly shy of 100 per cent, but surely felt the need to return with his teams chances of reaching the postseason flailing. Asked if he rushed back from the injury, Bernier said, "You always want to be back as soon as possible." "It was a little sore obviously, but I was just trying to get it loose a little bit in between whistles and timeouts." 2/3. Ready to Start? Scoring first didnt help the Leafs much on this night. They scored the first goal for the first time in eight games with Lupul tucking a Nazem Kadri pass beyond Ryan Miller on a power-play, but it was down-hill from there. Already owning possession for much of the period to that point, the Blues tied the proceedings at one when T.J. Oshie squeezed a rebound through the pads of Bernier. They went in front for good on the first of three from David Backes on a power-play, Dion Phaneuf failing to clear the puck adequately. St. Louis had 23 shots for the period, the most Toronto has allowed in any one period this season. "Thats a heck of a hockey team over there," van Riemsdyk said. "The way they play, lines 1-4, [defence] pairings 1-3, theres not much of a falloff. They kept coming. Thats no excuse for us. We have to find a way to get off to a better start." Strong and sturdy, the Blues cycled and cycled and cycled without giving the Leafs even a taste of the puck. "We couldnt break their cycle," Lupul said. "We couldnt get the puck." It was the kind of grinding performance Carlyle would like to see more from his team in Toronto. "They did a lot of things that were trying to convince our hockey club to do as far as hanging onto the puck a little bit more," he said. "We understand were not as big and strong and as physical as some of those teams that are able to do that, but thats more of the style this time of year – if you watch the games – thats whats being played." The Leafs are now 8-20-4 when they trail after the opening period. "Again we played 30 minutes of hockey tonight and showed that we can play, but wheres the 60 minutes?" Carlyle said. "We cannot afford to not start the way weve been starting. We have to have more of an effort or consistent, confident start than weve had in these games." 4. Phaneuf Phaneuf played fewer than 21 minutes and had what may have been his worst game of the season. The Toronto captain was on the ice and largely responsible for three of the first four St. Louis goals, having what Carlyle described as a "rough night". The 28-year-old made his first error late in the first, fumbling away an opportunity to clear the puck on a penalty kill, the Blues regrouping to score the first of three from Backes. Then early in the middle frame Phaneuf lost a puck battle with Alex Steen in the offensive zone. Lagging to get back defensively, he was beaten down the ice by Backes, the Blues captain eluding Bernier for the third St. Louis marker. About 10 minutes after that it was Steen muscling Phaneuf to the ice just outside Berniers crease, shaking free to whistle a backhand just under the bar for a 4-1 lead. Phaneuf was unavailable to media after the game. 5. Six-Game Skid Losing a bunch of close games, prior to Wednesday night, Lupul believed the Leafs had actually played better at points in their slide than in many victories this season. "Absolutely," said Lupul before the loss to St. Louis. "We track scoring chances – our team does – and were out-chancing teams every night. You can look at that and say were doing some things right, but its the time of the year that that doesnt really matter anymore, its all about wins. Youve got to translate that into getting more wins." The 30-year-old observed that the margin for winning and losing at this time of year is "really close". "Its been a topic of discussion in here," he said. "Were generating chances. Were not giving up near as many as we have, but were coming out on the wrong side of the game so that doesnt really matter. "And on the flip side when we were winning games and getting out-chanced we were saying the same thing in here, like come on, what are we doing? But now its the time of the year that it doesnt really matter how you get the job done it just needs to get done." Stats-Pack 1-7-0 – Leafs record in the past eight games. 23 – Shots allowed by the Leafs in the opening period Wednesday, the most of any period this season. 8 – Fights for David Clarkson this season. Pointless now in 23 of the past 25 games, Clarkson fought Brendan Morrow in the second period. 7-23 – Tyler Bozak in the faceoff circle against the Blues, hammered by the combination of Steen and Vladimir Sobotka. 1 – Six-game losing streak for the Leafs this season. 2 – Goals for James van Riemsdyk in the past 12 games, van Riemsdyk notching his 28th this season in defeat. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-3Season: 21% (3rd) PK: 2-3Season: 78.5% (28th) Quote of the Night "Theres reason for concern, but its not completely time to panic." -Joffrey Lupul, following the Leafs sixth consecutive loss. Up Next The Leafs travel to Philadelphia on Friday to meet the Flyers before hosting the Red Wings at home on Saturday. John Randle Jersey .com) - The New York Islanders will try to solve their issues against Central Division opponents when they visit the Minnesota Wild for Tuesdays battle at Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota Vikings Jerseys . According to various reports, the striker is about to sign a five-and-a-half year extension with Manchester United worth a reported 300,000 pounds a week that would see him at Old Trafford until 2019. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/Paul-...vikings-jersey/. In the opener of the World Group first-round series, world No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont. Kirk Cousins Jersey . - This win was more the New Jersey Devils style. Brett Favre Jersey . The team said Saturday that the 36-year-old Robidas is expected to miss four to six months, jeopardizing his return this season. He was injured when he slid hard into the boards in the second period of a 2-1 shootout loss to Chicago on Friday. NEWARK, N.J. -- For seven years, Miikka Kiprusoff was a constant in net for the Calgary Flames. Karri Ramo might be the next in line. Ramo made 31 saves to record his second NHL shutout and Mark Giordano scored the only goal as the Flames topped the New Jersey Devils 1-0 on Monday night. "He reminds me of (Kiprusoff)," Giordano said of Ramo. "His style is similar. Theyre quick guys. We really have a lot of confidence in our goaltending." Calgary improved to 34-38-7 overall, including 16-20-4 on the road this season. "Its just a hard-working group," Flames coach Bob Hartley said. "Were going to fight until the last second. I love this group." Cory Schneider stopped 21 of 22 shots for New Jersey, which fell to 34-29-16. New Jerseys loss also allowed the New York Rangers to clinch a playoff berth. Both Calgary and the Devils have three games remaining this season. The Devils are three points behind Columbus for the last playoff spot in the East. "In my opinion, I think were going to get one more chance (to make the playoffs)," New Jerseys Jaromir Jagr said. "Its too strange to finish like that. Youve got to believe. It wouldnt make any sense to finish like that. We dominated. Just keep the faith and I think were going to get one more chance in my opinion. "Well see if Im right or wrong." Neither the Flames nor Devils scored until Giordanos power-play goal 23 seconds into the third as both teams were unable to take advantage of opportunities. Giordanos goal, his 14th of the season, was a one-timer off a feed from Jiri Hudler. "You like those (passes)," Giordano said. "Rolling pucks, goalies have (a tough time) picking it up (and) I picked it up pretty (well)." While Giordano celebrated his good fortune, the Devils lamented their misfortune. The Devils outshot Calgary 22-16 through two periods, and finished with a 31-22 advantage. New Jersey also did not allow the Flames a shot on goal in a 15-minute span between the first and second periods. "(We) had chances and opportunities and didnt stick it in the back of the net," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. "A common theme, (we) dont score easily and we hadnt all year. Were at mercy of games like this where margin of error is very small.dddddddddddd I thought defensively we were very good, but when you cant score its hard to win." New Jersey had a goal disallowed with 1:26 left in the first, as referee Brad Watson waved off what would have been a game-opening score by Ryan Carter. The ruling was upheld by a video review by the NHL in Toronto. Replays showed Carter kicked the puck, but it was inconclusive whether the Devils left wing was able to get his stick on it before it rolled under Ramo. "I saw it off my foot and between the goaltenders pads, I got a piece of it (with my stick) and thats what propelled it in," Carter said. "I dont think (the review in Toronto is) how I saw it. Thats how it was." Calgary was unable to convert on four power plays in the first two periods, and rookie left wing Kenny Agostinos semi-breakaway with 1:34 left in the second was sticked away by Schneider. The play began as New Jersey right wing Tuomo Ruutu committed a turnover in the offensive zone, and ended with Devils defenceman Jon Merrill committing a slashing minor as he tried to affect the shot attempt. "Its a great learning experience for them," Hartley said of the Flames rookies, who have had to play at even strength and on specialty teams this season. "Kenny had a good game. "I felt he generated scoring chances out there." Merrills slash led directly to Giordanos goal. Calgary finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while New Jersey was 0-for-3. NOTES: The game marked the first time Agostino played as a professional in New Jersey. Agostino, who grew up a half-hour away from the Prudential Center, was traded from Pittsburgh to Calgary along with right wing Ben Hanowski and the Penguins 2013 first round pick last March for Jarome Iginla. "Its going to be a cool experience," Agostino said before the game. "Its a building Ive seen a lot of games in, so its going to be fun." Agostino estimated he had a cheering section of at least "40." ... The Devils did not have defenceman Bryce Salvador, left wings Ryane Clowe and Patrik Elias, and centres Adam Henrique and Jacob Josefson due to injuries. ... The announced attendance was 14,297. 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