TORONTO - By Monday morning - hours after an increasingly perilous skid hit five - more than a few members of the wobbling Maple Leafs were on the third floor of the Air Canada Centre, playing some basketball on the practice court of the neighbouring Toronto Raptors. "I think some guys just wanted to go shoot some hoops and loosen up," said captain Dion Phaneuf on a rest day for most of his teammates. The Leafs are doing what they can to loosen up and shake the ills of a losing streak that has them tumbling closer and closer to another late season collapse and early spring exit. In fine position as recently as two weeks ago - second in the Atlantic following a statement win in L.A. - they are now simply clinging to the final wild card position in the East with a grueling test against St. Louis ahead on Tuesday night. "No ones happy with whats gone on," said Phaneuf, "but its reality. We have got to come [Tuesday] prepared and ready to go." Just as the highs of a win streak are exaggerated so too are the lows of a losing slide. Toronto has lost five straight, all close games and all with a series of consistent and untimely trends. First has been the sluggish starts and inability to score the games first goal. The Leafs have a .714 winning percentage this season when they score first, a .289 mark when they dont. Theyve given up that valued first goal in seven straight games, falling behind by two or more in five of the seven (six losses). And while theyve improbably rallied to tie or pull within one in each of the five losses - even leading briefly against Tampa - the uphill climb has ultimately proven too steep to overcome. "The one issue for us, more than anything, is that we seem to have been putting ourselves in the position of clawing back into games," head coach Randy Carlyle observed. "And you wont have success if you continually have to do that." "Weve played from behind too often," Phaneuf concurred. "When we have been coming from behind thats when weve been attacking more than from the start. When you do get down you play with more desperation. We have to find a way to play with that desperation right from the get-go." Not helping matters, though certainly not the singular point of blame, has been the goaltending. His confidence simply sunk at this point, James Reimer has not provided anywhere near the top-tier caliber of goaltending that Jonathan Bernier delivered before his injury, the kind of elite nightly theatrics the defensively-inept Leafs require to win. Consider Berniers 8-2-2 record and .947 save percentage this season when facing 40 shots as reminders of that ability to perform under heavy strain. Reimer, meanwhile, has a disastrous .871 save percentage in five starts in place of Bernier. Nursing the first groin injury of his career, Bernier was on the ice again Monday afternoon, but wasnt sure if hed be available to return against the Blues. "It hurts to see your team lose," he said, "but at the same time its one of those injuries [where] youve got to take time. Dont want to rush and then youre out for another four or five games after." Bernier said his readiness would be determined by the teams medical staff, but said hed know for himself when he was able to make "a split save or that I can make that stretch save and not think about it I guess." Update: Bernier was the projected starter on Tuesday morning. Without him, Carlyle would be faced with difficult question in goal for a tough tilt against the best team in the West. Start Reimer for the sixth consecutive game despite his struggles or hand the net to Drew MacIntyre, the 30-year-old who has yet to start an NHL game. While perhaps difficult to envision Carlyle turning back to Reimer yet again, consider that under similarly challenging circumstance - two sets of back-to-backs in the past week - he went with the struggling former no. 1 each and every time. The tried and tested product, however unstable at the moment, may be more appealing than the unknown. Reimer was pulled for MacIntyre in the teams fifth straight loss on Sunday night. "What happened last game, surely you take that into consideration, but the most important thing is that the individual we choose to represent us at that position tomorrow night we feel confident he can get the job done," said Carlyle. Beyond goaltending are the series of game-changing mistakes and breakdowns that have often left Reimer on an island all his own, left to sink or swim in an unforgiving crease. Bernier bailed out those mistakes more often than not. Reimer has not. There was Troy Brouwer left all by his lonesome in the slot during the first loss in Washington. There were two Gustav Nyquist breakaway goals in Detroit. It was three times open for Steven Stamkos in Toronto. There was the Phil Kessel neutral zone giveaway which sprung Max Pacioretty against Montreal, a Rene Bourque breakaway coming shortly after. And most recently, a bad line change and pinch that sparked an odd-man rush goal from Damien Brunner and then later another breakaway, this time from Patrik Elias. "What we have to do is we have to limit our mistakes," said Carlyle. "Were making too many of them that are costing us in the hockey games." Additionally, the Leafs have been unable to find much offence beyond their top line. Without the likes of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk, and Tyler Bozak scoring two or three a night, theyve simply not produced enough to overshadow other faults as was often the case in victories earlier this season. "Theres still lots of hockey to be played," Phaneuf said. "Theres lots of points that are available for us. We obviously are not happy about what has happened, but whats happened has happened. Theres no going back to yesterday or three days ago or a week ago. Right now our focus is on St. Louis and coming out and playing the way that we can. "Weve slid far enough. Weve got to grab some traction here and regroup with a big win." Vapormax Pas Cher Chine .C. -- The Steve Smith era in Carolina is over. Vapormax Plus Femme Pas Cher . The top-ranked Spaniard won his fourth Madrid Open on Sunday after Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw with a hip injury when trailing 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 in the final. And Nadal, who is coming off to uncharacteristic quarterfinal losses on clay, said his mental strength is still lacking just two weeks ahead of the French Open. http://www.vapormaxpascher.be/air-max-va...s-pas-cher.html. Auld made 37 saves in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. It was Ottawas first game without starter Anderson, who is out indefinitely after cutting his hand Wednesday night, and it was evident the team wasnt sure how to deal with the change in goal. Nike Vapormax Destockage .Y. - Major League Soccers independent review panel has taken back the fine and one-game suspension it placed on Toronto FC forward Luke Moore earlier this week. Vapormax Fausse Pas Cher . - Christophe Lalancette scored a third-period goal and added the shootout winner to lead the Drummondville Voltigeurs to a 5-4 win over the Quebec Remparts in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Sunday. SAN FRANCISCO -- As hard-hitting safety Donte Whitner headed out of the Bay Area for his hometown of Cleveland, the San Francisco 49ers wasted little time finding someone to fill his position. Safety Antoine Bethea agreed to a $23 million, four-year contract with the Niners on Tuesday as the NFLs free agency period began, and then the 49ers acquired offensive tackle Jonathan Martin from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday night to reunite him with former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. Bethea announced on Twitter he had joined the 49ers, saying: "Glad to be a Niner!! Going to the Bay!!!" A person with knowledge of Betheas contract provided details of the financial terms, speaking on condition of anonymity because they werent announced and the 49ers had yet to acknowledge the signing. Also Tuesday, veteran place kicker Phil Dawson received a new two-year contract after a sensational first season in San Francisco. Dawson announced on his Twitter page that he had re-signed, then the team made it formal. The sides had discussions over the past two weeks. "My experience being on the inside did nothing but confirm what I already knew to be true, that San Francisco is a super attractive place to play and my experience last season only furthered that notion in my mind," Dawson said. "Coming into free agency, my No. 1 goal was to remain a 49er. Fortunately that was able to work out." Whitner, meanwhile, announced on Twitter he would join the Browns: "To all my former teammates and coaches. I love you all! I will always cherish you guys!" he wrote. And linebacker Patrick Willis wrote on Twitter, "Man (at)DonteWhitner u will be missed G." For the second straight March, San Francisco watched a top safety leave for a big contract elsewhere. Last year, Dashon Goldson departed for Tampa Bay and 2013 top draft pick Eric Reid replaced him. The 29-year-old Bethea had 110 tackles, two interceptions and a sack last season, his sixth straight year starting every game for the Indianapolis Colts. "The thing I love about the 49ers is when they lose someone they pick someone up, which we certainly did that with Antoine," Dawson said. "Im excited to get to know him and certainly Ive followed him through the years. Were going to try to keep on plugging forward and keep on getting better." The 49ers secondary also lost cornerback Carlos Rogers after three seasons Tuesday, an expected cost-cutting move by the team. Cornerback Eric Wright posted a photo on his Instagram account via Twitter of a new 49ers contract, but the team didnt confirm he had received a new deal.dddddddddddd San Francisco also acquired quarterback Blaine Gabbert from Jacksonville for a sixth-round draft pick this year and a conditional pick next season, apparently finding a capable backup for Colin Kaepernick. The deal was pending a physical. Gabbert started the first three games for Jacksonville last season before being benched in favour of Chad Henne, re-signed Friday to a two-year contract worth $8 million. The 24-year-old Gabbert was the 10th overall draft pick in 2011 out of Missouri. He has thrown for 22 touchdowns in three NFL seasons, completing 414 of 777 passes for 4,357 yards in 28 games and 27 starts. "We thought highly of Blaine as an early entry into the 2011 NFL draft," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said. "He is a high-character individual that will be given every opportunity to develop within our system and we are looking forward to working with him." Bringing back Dawson has been a top priority for both sides for months -- with Harbaugh saying, "pay the man" -- and it got done quickly. The 39-year-old Dawson was a big reason the 49ers returned to the NFC championship game. In his first year with the 49ers following 14 seasons in Cleveland, Dawson converted 32 of 36 field goals and set a franchise record with 27 successful field goals in a row. "Phil has been a consummate pro and clutch performer his entire career and we are pleased that he has chosen to continue on with the 49ers," Baalke said. "It was important to this organization to have a veteran kicker like Phil as we enter our first season in a new stadium." The 49ers move into the new $1.2 billion Levis Stadium at team headquarters this year. Soon, Dawson will return from his family home in Austin, Texas, to start practicing at the new stadium, where the NFLs first automatic collapsible goal posts were installed last week. Dawson plans to keep playing as long as he can maintain his high level. "I want to be a difference-maker for my team," he said. "Signing this contract I fully expect to live up to those standards and then some." With Rogers departure, San Francisco cleared $5.1 million in salary-cap room. The 32-year-old Rogers, who missed time late in the season with a strained right hamstring, had 47 tackles and two interceptions last season. Rogers received a $31.3 million, four-year contract in March 2012 and was due to earn $6.6 million in 2014. The 49ers announced they tendered one-year contracts to restricted free-agent tight end and defensive tackle Demarcus Dobbs and exclusive rights free-agent linebacker Michael Wilhoite. ' ' '