Hunde in Not » d period. Momentum was clearly with the M

OTTAWA - It was a hollow victory at best. The Ottawa Senators were more than happy to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 Saturday night on home ice to extend their win streak to four games. But in the big picture it meant little. "It was important for us to try and win this hockey game and send the fans home happy in the last home game," said Spezza. "(The streak) shows that we can be a more consistent club, but it still doesnt matter because we didnt make the playoffs and that was our ultimate goal and we didnt get there. Obviously weve done some better things of late, but we would have liked to do that earlier in the season." Spezza scored the lone goal, and Craig Anderson stopped 27 shots for his fourth shutout of the season as the Senators played their final home game of the regular season. Ottawa wraps up the season Sunday against Pittsburgh. With the victory, the Senators (36-31-14) tied their season-high winning streak of four games and finished the year above .500 on home ice with an 18-17-6 record. It was also their first win against Toronto this season. Senators coach Paul MacLean tried to focus on the positive of winning the last four games despite the disappointment of falling short this season. "Were playing games that dont mean much in the standings as far as getting us into the Stanley Cup playoffs which is what its all about," said MacLean. "But at the same time finishing our home schedule like we are is way better." The Leafs (38-36-8) capped off their season with 12 losses in their last 15 games, leaving them below the Senators in the standings. "Its terribly disappointing and emotional," said Leafs coach Randy Carlyle. "Its like you almost get in a state of depression because its such a negative in your life. Were embarrassed about the way things unraveled for our hockey club." James Reimer faced 37 shots, making a number of big saves to keep Toronto in the game. Reimer finished the season with a 12-16-1 record. With his future unknown Reimer, who will be a restricted free agent, was visibly emotional following the game. "There definitely were some thoughts like that (that this could be my last game with Toronto," said Reimer. "I was just trying to come in here and have a last memorable game. Thinking about all the memories, its just been an interesting time." Despite the difficulties he and the Leafs had down the stretch Reimer admitted to feeling somewhat positive about his game of late. "Ive been feeling really good the last couple of games and really getting back to the way I can play," said Reimer. "Its good to have a night (Saturday) statistically to show where I was back to, but obviously it would have been nice to get the win. Personally its good to end on a high note." Milan Michalek had a chance to put Ottawa up 2-0 on a breakaway in the third period, but Reimer was able to get over and make the save along the post. "I think we created a lot of scoring chances and just couldnt put one in the net," said Ottawas Erik Karlsson. "Luckily for us Anderson was standing on his head and made some unbelievable saves when we needed it and we only needed to score the one." Anderson was pleased with his and the teams overall performance, but admitted he wished they could have played like this earlier in the season. "I think its bittersweet," said Anderson. "Theres also some frustration that we couldnt have done this sooner throughout the year, but thats just part of the growing pains and some of the adversity we had." The Leafs had a two-man advantage for 23 seconds midway through the third period, but were unable to capitalize. Torontos inability to produce on the power play had been a huge problem down the stretch. In their last ten games the Leafs were 4-for-30 with the man advantage. "Its disappointing to not be playing next week," said Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf. "This is our job. Its a business and were in the business of results and we didnt get results. We were in a very good spot and we let it slip away and thats the extremely disappointing part of everything." Spezza opened the scoring at the seven-minute mark of the second with a power-play goal. Karlsson found Spezza alone in the faceoff circle and the Senators captain caught the inside of the post for his 23rd of the season. Spezza now has 56 points in 56 career games against the Leafs. Both teams had goals called off in a scoreless first period. At the eight-minute mark of the first, Torontos Tyler Bozak had a goal called off immediately due to a high stick, and on the ensuing play the Senators had a goal of their own waived off after incidental contact with the goaltender was called on the play. Notes: The Senators were without C Mika Zibanejad, who is undergoing tests for an undisclosed condition, D Jared Cowen (lower body, day-to-day) and RW Bobby Ryan (sports hernia, out for season). LW Matt Kassian was a healthy scratch. The Leafs were without G Jonathan Bernier (left MCL, two weeks), RW Joffrey Lupul (knee surgery, 3-4 weeks), Dave Bolland (lacerated ankle, unknown) and Carter Ashton (knee, unknown). D Carl Gunnarsson was a healthy scratch. D Petter Granberg made his NHL debut. Paul Krause Youth Jersey . -- Hal Steinbrenner says Alex Rodriguez is "a great player" and "obviously an asset," but the New York Yankees managing general partner wouldnt discuss the third basemans possible return to the team following a season-long suspension. Brian ONeill Vikings Jersey . Hemsky left the Oilers Tuesday night loss to the Dallas Stars in the second period and did not return. Through 48 games this season, Hemsky has seven goals and a total of 24 points. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Adrian-Peterson-Vikings-Jersey/ . Tristan Jackson returned a missed field goal 129 yards early in the fourth quarter as the Roughriders beat the B.C. Custom Minnesota Vikings Jerseys . - Olympic champion Marielle Thompson accomplished her mission of defending her skicross World Cup title at Nakiska Ski Area on Saturday. Fran Tarkenton Womens Jersey . Former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds made his longshot request of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit upheld Bonds conviction in September.HAMILTON - The Toronto Marlies scored three goals in the second period en route to a 4-1 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League on Friday. Spencer Abbott had a goal and two assists, and Kory Nagy, T.J. Brennan and Brad Ross also scored for the Marlies (13-9-1). Drew MacIntyre made 28 saves. Louis Leblanc had the lone goal for the Bulldogs (12-11-3), while Robert Mayer stopped 20 shots in a losing effort. The Marlies enjoyed offensive pressure from the opening whistle Friday, but the Bulldogs were able to effectively limit their scoring chances early in the first period. That luck ran out at 11:08 of the period, when Andrew MacWilliams point shot bounced off the end boards and straight to Abbott to the right of Mayers net. Abbott easily slotted the puck into the empty net with the goaltender well out of position. Hamilton pushed back immediately, and nearly found an equalizing goal when winger Patrick Holland drove the net and one-timed a centring pass toward MacIntyre. The goaltender was up to the challenge, and dropped low to kick aside the slap shot. The Bulldogs began the second period with pace, and saw two quality scoring chances pass them by when Holland and Nick Tarnasky were both denied by MacIntyre from close range. After weathering the early pressure, the Marlies struck to double their lead at 7:24 of the second period. David Broll collected the puck in the left corner, and centred for the strreaking Nagy, who tipped the puck through the legs of Mayer.dddddddddddd The lead swelled to 3-0 with Toronto on the power play, after Hamiltons Gabriel Dumont was whistled for kneeing. Stuart Percy shifted the puck across the blue-line to Brennan, whose low wrist shot moved through a screen and the pads of Mayer at 9:03 of the second period. Momentum was clearly with the Marlies, who continued to threaten in the offensive end against a disheartened Bulldogs team. That pressure paved the way for a fourth goal, as Tyler Biggs carried along the left wing unguarded, and threaded a cross-ice pass to Ross at the far post. With Mayer sprawling to his left, Ross waited and lifted a wrist shot over the goaltenders outstretched glove at 10:35 of the second period. Friday marked the Bulldogs annual Toy Toss game, and Louis Leblanc gave the fans in attendance reason to throw their plush toys when he scored to break Drew MacIntyres shutout bid at 11:01 of the second period. The puck took a radical bounce off the foot of Martin St. Pierre behind the net, and rolled to Leblanc in front, who turned and fired a low wrist shot through the legs of MacIntyre. Leblanc had the Bulldogs best chance for a goal in the third period, stickhandling into the high slot on the power play and snapping a heavy wrist shot that clanged off the crossbar and lay in MacIntyres crease. But no Bulldog could poke the loose puck over the goal line. ' ' '