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TORONTO – It was neither loud, thunderous nor bombastic in the manner of his predecessor, but in his own understated way Brendan Shanahan put his sliding Maple Leafs club on notice. Four days after firing Randy Carlyle, Shanahan told his team in a Friday morning meeting that more of the same wasnt going to be tolerated, that the players in the room had more to give. He wanted it known that management was watching both the good and the bad, watching closely moreover how the group responded to interim head coach, Peter Horachek. Thats the million dollar question, Shanahan said, his voice calm and static despite the apparent urgency of his message to players. Any time there is a coaching change there is an opportunity for players to look at themselves as well. Theres that moment when a coach goes and then you know that the spotlights going to be shined on you. What Shanahan will admittedly get is an opportunity to judge the roster under different leadership – that of Horachek, who will remain in charge until the end of the season. Shanahan will have a chance now in the final 40 games to assess the degree to which familiar troubles of defence and possession were tied to coaching or to a core group of players who have failed in some way or another under the previous two head coaches – Ron Wilson fired three years ago this March. How theyre going to be defined is really up to them at this point, Shanahan said. I also wanted to make it very clear to them that were watching and that were on it. And whether weve seen good things or weve seen some bad things theyre not getting by us, theyre not escaping us. More changes arent out of the question. Trades – big or small – were on the table and that included seemingly anyone. Shanahan said he and the front office wouldnt be afraid to act if progress wasnt discerned or if an opportunity to improve the roster arose otherwise. That would represent a shift from the patient and generally quiet tenure of nearly a year on the job. Shanahan has left the core of the roster intact since he was hired last April. He opted against significant moves last summer following a nosedive out of the playoffs that predated his leadership. Only touch-up moves were made in the offseason, the likes of Mike Santorelli, Daniel Winnik and Leo Komarov added in free agency. Core players were all kept on board. Firing Carlyle was the first and easier fix, especially in contrast to the difficult complexities and looming decisions of a roster thats overextended at the top and not near good enough. Where does Shanahan turn with the pillars of Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, who are both under contract until at least 2021? Or how about Joffrey Lupul, David Clarkson and Tyler Bozak, none of whom have excelled in the first half? How much of that core is worth salvaging for the long term? Shanahan and his front office team will use the remaining time this season to make those assessments. He said those core players would be judged on the results of the team in the second half and not necessarily on the personal success of any one individual. No player fits such a bill more than Kessel, who is hovering around the top-10 in league scoring despite an underwhelming season on the whole. I expressed it to them that were not satisfied, Shanahan said of his directive to the team. And quite honestly its really about the team performs in how a lot of individuals get rated as well. A different coach will help to determine which pieces, if any, in the current mix function better under different leadership. How does Jake Gardiner, for example, respond to Horachek after a turbulent run under Carlyle? Some problems, like Clarkson, may simply be beyond coaching, but others like Gardiner, Morgan Rielly and Richard Panik may show differently under another coach, one whos known to be a strong communicator and teacher. Gardiner fared well under Wilson, far less so under Carlyle. If I made a mistake with Randy it was a bigger deal than it was with Ron, Gardiner said. Without explicitly taking the since-deposed Carlyle to task, Shanahan did note the need for a better approach toward possessing the puck more and defending less. The Leafs under Carlyle ranked near the bottom of the league in both categories. I do think we need more strategies in all three zones so that we can hang onto the puck more and play with the puck more, he said. That will fall on Horachek for the time being – the earliest returns positive. Shanahan said a further assessment of the coaching staff would come in the offseason, the pool of candidates presumably larger than at the current moment. Shanahan has mostly remained in the weeds in his first front office role, rarely making his voice heard publicly even in key moments. It was Dave Nonis who addressed a puzzling decision to retain Carlyle last May; it was Nonis speaking after a quiet July 1; and then it was Nonis again at the forefront when Carlyle was fired earlier in the week. But there was Shanahan on Friday stepping to the podium and making it known to all that his team had been put on notice. It wasnt quite on the bombastic level of Brian Burke, but it was a rare public display from the man charged with revamping the Leafs. I want to give them the time and the space and the room to go out and tell us who they are and what they are, he said. So far it hasnt been good enough. They know that. The warning is one thing. How players and Shanahan follow through under difficult and unpredictable terrain is another entirely. Five Points 1. Response This was the response Shanahan was looking for, though one game will hardly change minds in the grander scheme of things. Toronto held Columbus to just 20 shots on Friday evening, kept Jonathan Bernier free of heavy danger and held serve in the possession game. They pumped five goals past Sergei Bobrovsky and won for just the third time in the past 11 games. Cody Franson said afterward it was time for the Leafs to grow up and demonstrate such efforts on a consistent basis. Its time to buy in, said Franson. Its time to really come in and compete. Weve played a very rollercoaster-type season to this point and you cant expect to make the playoffs and you cant expect to go deep in the playoffs if you dont become that team that can win games when theyre ahead; that can play defensive hockey against tough teams; that can beat tough teams that work as hard as Columbus does. The vibe was certainly lighter in the winning dressing room afterward, almost as if a weight had been lifted. There was a sense of pride even in the brand of hockey that emerged in victory. I definitely feel like thats how we need to approach every game, for sure, said Horachek. Its a lot harder to play that way, but thats the way we need to play as a team thats going to be trying to get back to where it needs to be. Winning his first game behind the Leafs bench, Horachek was actually graced with the teams player of the game sweater, an honour thats never gone to the coach before in its brief history. 2. Accountability Franson said Shanahans directive to players on Friday morning was more a push to play better than anything else. It wasnt a threatening meeting, said Franson, though he labeled the Carlyle firing as a definite wake-up call to the group. Theres always a hidden message within moves like that, he said of the decision which saw Carlyle dismissed after fewer than three seasons in Toronto. They dont have to come down here and tell us that were next or anything like that. We understand. We know how the business works. And we know what we have to do within this room in order to put that thought process of being inconsistent to sleep. Thats where we want to get to. We dont want to be that team thats great one week and horrible the next. We want to consistently move up. Accountability, Franson said, had to come from within. Were trying to get to that point where our coaches dont have to say anything, said the 27-year-old, who had a pair of assists in 20 minutes. When a team gets to that point where the coaches dont have to say anything, when the group doesnt need a talking to or knows what we need to do, thats when you start becoming successful and thats when you know guys are really buying in. Tonights definitely a step in that direction. 3. With and Without the Puck Shanahan was predictably disturbed with two key pillars of the Leafs play this season: defence and possession. The message that we are trying to pound home to our players is that you really have to be a lot more sound defensively, he said. Being where we are in goals against, being where we are in shots against, its not acceptable. The Leafs entered Fridays game ranked 25th in goals against and 29th in shots against. In detailing those troubles, Shanahan said improvement was required from the revamped coaching staff – Steve Staios added – noting the need for better strategies to play defence less while keeping the puck more. Toronto has actually fared well in both fashions in recent games, including just 26 shots against to Washington with 55 percent possession in Horacheks debut. Tyler Bozak, who tallied a pair of points in victory Friday, detailed the sources for improvement. Were bumping pucks to the middle more than rimming it around the wall and its letting us get out of our zone cleaner, Bozak said. And also, were spending a lot more time in the offensive zone so that keeps them playing defence. On the biggest point of emphasis under Horachek so far, Bozak added, I think were looking for more puck possession. The more you have the puck the less you have to play defence and we think weve been defending a little too much so thats the main thing. 4. Benefactor The biggest early benefactor of the coaching change may be Richard Panik. Panik was moved onto the Leafs second unit against Columbus, paired with two of the teams higher caliber offensive players in Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk. Now I get the opportunity, Ive got to make the best of it, Panik said before playing a season-high of nearly 18 minutes. I cant just be satisfied now that Im on the second line, now I have to prove I have the ability to play on that line. Panik has certainly earned a longer look. Hes on pace for 16 goals despite playing on the fourth line with limited ice-time for most of the season. Claimed off waivers from Tampa, the 23-year-old has also rightfully been added to the power-play in recent days. Its all about how youre playing, Horachek said before the game. If hes playing hard and hes doing a good job hes going to play more. Hes earned an opportunity to play at a higher role. We want to give everyone whos pushing the envelope like that, whos going to step up, [an opportunity] to play more. Hes got a lot of skill, added Horachek of the one-time second round pick. Hes got skill and we kind of marvel sometimes when we watch some of the things he can do. But all that skill has to be put into a game and theres functions of how we want to play and areas where you dont want to turn pucks over. Hes doing a better job there. 5. Benefactor II Another early and apparent benefactor of the coaching change is Morgan Rielly, who led the Leafs in even-strength ice-time for the second consecutive game. Rielly, who played 22 minutes overall against Columbus, actually set a career-high for minutes in Horacheks debut two nights earlier. He totaled nearly 24 minutes against Washington on Wednesday. Stats-Pack 13 – Number of times the Leafs have allowed 30 shots or fewer this season, including four of the past five games. 17:40 – Ice-time for Richard Panik, a season-high. 2nd – Consecutive game in which the Leafs have allowed a goal on the first shot. 2 – Even-strength points for Tyler Bozak against Columbus. Bozak had five such points in the previous 18 games. 18 – Power-play points for Phil Kessel this season, just a tad behind a career-high of 23. 20:31 – Even-strength ice-time for Morgan Rielly, leading the Leafs. Special Teams Capsule PP: 2-4 Season: 20.7 per cent (9th) PK: 1-2 Season: 82 per cent (13th) Quote of the Night Theres always a hidden message within moves like that. They dont have to come down here and tell us that were next or anything like that. We understand. We know how the business works. And we know what we have to do within this room in order to put that thought process of being inconsistent to sleep. Thats where we want to get to. We dont want to be that team thats great one week and horrible the next. We want to consistently move up. -Cody Franson, on the Randy Carlyle firing. Quote of the Night II If I made a mistake with Randy it was a bigger deal than it was with Ron. -Jake Gardiner, on the differences in his first two NHL head coaches, Randy Carlyle and Ron Wilson. Up Next The Leafs head out on a grueling four-game road trip, beginning Monday night in Anaheim. Authentic J.C. Jackson Jersey . In the opener of the World Group first-round series, world No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont. Authentic Tom Brady Jersey . -- The Oakland Raiders expect to have starting right tackle Tony Pashos back for Sundays game against the Houston Texans. http://www.cheappatriotsjerseysauthentic.com/. Hamilton signed offensive linemen Mike Filer, Joel Reinders, Landon Rice and Carson Rockhill. Authentic Trey Flowers Jersey .C. - Steve Clifford isnt exactly singing his teams praises after the Bobcats won for the sixth time in seven games. Authentic Kyle Van Noy Jersey . General manager David Poile called signing Ribeiro a great opportunity to add a talented, experienced and creative centre Tuesday when he introduced the veteran at a news conference. Ribeiros contract is worth $1.05 million after being bought out of the final three years of a $22 million contract by the Coyotes recently.Richmond, VA (SportsNetwork.com) - Treveon Graham scored 21 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the second overtime, and pulled down 11 rebounds to help VCU knock off No. 23 Northern Iowa 93-87 on Saturday. Grahams late layup in regulation helped the Rams (6-3) force overtime and after being held scoreless in the first extra period, he hit the 3-pointer in the second overtime that put VCU ahead for good. Briante Weber chipped in 14 points and six steals for the Rams, and Melvin Johnson added 12. Our bench production is what won us the game. Our bench was better than it has been earlier in the year. We still have to keep improving, but today was a step in the right direction, VCU coach Shaka Smart said. Wes Washpun and Matt Bohannon scored 27 and 18 points, respectively, for the Panthers (9-1), including 12 of the teams 14 points in the overtime sessions. It was not enough, though, and Washpun fouled out of the game in the second overtime. Deon Mitchell added 12 points in UNIs first loss of the season. With 54 seconds remaining, Northern Iowa took its only lead of the second half. Bohannon nailed a contested 3-point attempt to put the Panthers up 73-71, but Grahams layup on the next possession evened the game at 73-73. UNI could not get a shot off at the buzzer due to the aggressive VCU defense. Mo Alie-Coxs slam on the first possession of overtime got the Rams off to a quick start, but another clutch shot by Bohannon with 33 seconds to go tied the game at 83-83. All 10 of the Panthers points in the first extra session were scored by Bohannon or Washpun. The Rams once again opened the overtime period with the first basket, this time a triple from Doug Brooks. Bohannon had an opportunity for a three-point play on the next possession, but he missed the free throw that would have tied it. After Grahams long distance shot extended the VCUU lead to four, Washpun drove to the basket with less than a minute left to cut the deficit to two, but he committed an offensive foul for his fifth of the game.dddddddddddd Once Washpun left the game, the Panthers only got one bucket from Mitchell, and it was sandwiched by a pair of free throws from Weber and Graham to seal the win for VCU. The Rams maintained a small but persistent lead in the second half. The Panthers twice cut that margin to a point, but VCU answered each time with a 3-pointer to extend its advantage a little more. Justin Tillmans layup at the 6:16 mark gave the Rams their first double-digit lead of the game at 65-54, but thats when Washpun took over to send UNI on a run. He piled up eight points in the Panthers 19-8 surge to close regulation and send the game to the extra period. In the first half, UNI was able to survive VCUs Havoc defense despite committing nine turnovers. The Panthers shot 50.0 percent in the half and led by as many as nine six minutes into the game thanks to a quick 5-0 spurt highlighted by a Paul Jesperson 3. An 8-0 Rams run spurred by five points from Graham cut their deficit to one, and the final 12 1/2 minutes were back and forth. VCU took its first lead with under eight minutes to go with a Weber triple. The teams cooled down as halftime approached and in the final six minutes, each team only scored four points for a 37-35 Rams lead at the half. Game Notes VCU now leads the all-time series 2-1 with the home team winning all three meetings ... The Panthers have only started 10-0 once in team history, in 1963-64 ... UNIs loss leaves nine remaining undefeated teams ... Mitchells 12 points puts him over 1,000 for his career ... VCU hits the court next Tuesday against Belmont, while UNIs next game is against in-state rival Iowa. ' ' '