NEU » came in the bottom of the second when a Phill

TORONTO -- The early-season struggles of the Nashville Predators werent just about a team trying to find cohesion with new parts on the ice.It was just as much about Nashville redefining its leadership core following the departure of former captain Shea Weber as well as other veterans such as Barret Jackman, Paul Gaustad and Eric Nystrom.And what youre seeing now, perhaps -- as the Preds have picked up points in six straight games (4-0-2) heading into their game Tuesday against the?Toronto Maple Leafs?-- is a team that has defined its pool of leaders through that early adversity.When you lose a lot of players, not just Shea, guys are figuring out where their spot is early in the season, new captain Mike Fisher said on Tuesday after the teams morning skate. So its all kind of new on the ice as well as off the ice. I feel like we went through a stretch where we realized we were a lot better than we were but [figured], Lets learn through it. I feel like were coming out better on the other side. Were figuring out how we need to play, our identity.Added alternate captain James Neal: Everyone is going through the change with new roles, a lot of younger guys, and new faces. Thats part of it. But we knew wed come out of it. Its all part of hard work.Its also part of the legacy that a guy like Weber left behind. Go around the Predators room like I did on Tuesday, and youll see the players faces light up when asked to put into words what their former captain meant to them.He had an amazing presence, said winger Colin Wilson. Hes one of the best guys I ever played with, best leaders, thats what hes known for. He set the tone every single day.The way Weber handled his day-to-day approach still influences his former teammates.Just seeing him working hard every practice, every day in the gym ... he never took a day off. He was just a true professional, said defenseman Mattias Ekholm. It was a pleasure to grow into the league with a guy like that as a leader. You feel how blessed youve been to have had a guy like that to look up to, and try to be as good as him every day.As his?Montreal Canadiens teammates are learning, Weber sets the tone by what he does, not so much what he says.He wasnt a huge talker, Wilson said. Its more that he showed up, and when you have a leader whos dialed in every single day, every practice ... . He never took any days off, he led by example. Hes an intense guy and hes somebody you wanted to play for. Hes also a lot of fun, he kept the dressing room pretty light.Added Neal: Sheas just a great guy, a great person, a great hockey player. He didnt need to say much. Thats the kind of leader he was and the kind of guy he is. When there were problems, he would be able to hide them. He put his work in every day, and if you didnt put the work in with him, you were falling behind. All great leaders are like that. He was a fun guy to play with.Talented blueliner Roman Josi, an alternate captain, is growing into a bigger leadership role.Its definitely kind of new for a lot of guys, said Josi. You just kind of grow into a leadership role and try to learn from the older guys. You try to get more comfortable with it.The player acquired for Weber, the dynamic P.K. Subban, is part of that group of guys who can each lead in their own way. For Subban that means delivering on the ice (the defenseman is tied for fourth in goals, with three, and points, with eight), but also trying, in times of adversity like the Predators had in the opening month (losing six of their first eight games) to keep the right frame of mind at the rink.It has been a challenge. I really believe that a lot of the outcome of whatever the situation youre in is determined by your attitude and how you approach it, Subban said on Tuesday. I always approach everything with a positive attitude. I seem to get more success doing that than anything else.Picked by many before the season as serious Stanley Cup challengers, the Predators are showing signs of becoming that team. And Ekholm said the early-season losses, while frustrating, might have been a blessing in disguise because they forced everyone in the room to understand what it was going to take.I think we can be a contender, but not unless everyone works hard and understands their roles and what have you, said Ekholm. We have strong leaders in this room still with a lot of the older guys. We got a lesson in the beginning and now were finding our stride. We just have to keep at it. Derek Anderson Jersey . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Butch Beard Jersey . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. https://www.cheapcavaliers.com/862q-lebron-james-jersey-cavaliers.html . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Shawn Kemp Jersey . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Cavaliers Jerseys China . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin still isnt sure why reliable reliever Hector Neris didnt throw his best pitch in a big spot.With the Phillies leading by two runs in the eighth and closing in on a three game-sweep of the Miami Marlins, Neris allowed a two-run homer to Christian Yelich and a go-ahead infield single to J.T. Realmuto as the Marlins rallied for a 5-4 victory Sunday.Neris has been our best guy in the eighth inning, Mackanin said. Hes been fantastic all year. I just wish he would have gone to the splitter.Derek Dietrich reached base three times and added an RBI for the Marlins, who avoided falling further back in the NL wild-card race.Reliever Mike Dunn improved to 4-1 and A.J. Ramos pitched a scoreless ninth for his 37th save.After Yelich hit a two-run homer off the left-field foul pole, Miamis rally continued when Marcell Ozuna reached second as Cesar Hernandez and Tommy Joseph collided trying to catch a routine pop up. After moving to third on a groundout, Ozuna came home when Realmuto, who entered the game the previous inning, hit a sharp grounder down the line that third baseman Maikel Franco fielded cleanly but threw wide.This is how we play, Yelich said. We play hard all the time. If you play hard, you can live with the results.Freddy Galvis and Odubel Herrera both homered for the Phillies. Tommy Joseph, who hit his 20th home run of the season the previous night, added a pair of hits, including an RBI single in the first. Galvis followed with another RBI single two batters later against struggling Miami starter Andrew Cashner.Herrera added his 14th home run of the year to lead off the third, extending Philadelphias lead to 3-0. Hes now 12 for 23 in his last six games.Galvis hit another solo blast in the sixth, his 20th homer. He finished with three hits and also made a spectacular defensive play in the third.We let it slip away, Mackanin said. We should have won that game.Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI single in the fifth, breaking up Alec Ashers shutouut bid.dddddddddddd Dietrich followed with an RBI single to chase Asher before reliever Joely Rodriguez induced an inning-ending double play to preserve the Phillies 3-2 lead.Making his third start of the season after serving an 80-game suspension for PEDs, Asher allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking zero.I think it went well, Asher said. I executed a lot of pitches. The hits they got, I felt were soft singles. They find holes and theres nothing you can do about it.TIME TO LEAVEMarlins third baseman Martin Prado was ejected after striking out to end the third, throwing his helmet against the ground in disgust and arguing with home plate umpire Dale Scott. Ichiro Suzuki replaced him.MENTAL MISTAKEMackanin was disappointed to see Hernandez collide with Joseph on the eighth-inning error that led to Miamis go-ahead run.If Cesar is going to make an attempt to catch it, hes got to call it, the Phillies manager said. He never said a word. That was a mental mistake on his part.SIGN HIM UPSome of the biggest cheers of the game came in the bottom of the second when a Phillies fan sitting along the right-field line caught a sharp line drive off the bat of Aaron Altherr -- with one hand.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: Giancarlo Stanton was held out of the starting lineup for a second straight day after making his first start in the field on Friday following a three-week stint on the disabled list (left groin strain). He pinch hit in the seventh inning and struck out.Phillies: Veteran slugger Ryan Howard missed his second straight game with knee soreness. Mackanin said he could return Tuesday.UP NEXTMarlins: They open a 10-game homestand Monday vs. the Nationals, with Miami LHP Wei-Yin Chen (5-4, 4.99) facing Washington RHP A.J. Cole (1-2, 4.71).Phillies: They begin a two-game home series vs. the White Sox on Tuesday with Philadelphia RHP Jake Thompson (2-5, 5.64) opposing Chicago RHP James Shields (5-17, 5.84). ' ' '