TORONTO a€“ Jonathan Bernier wants to be like Henrik Lundqvist. Or at least something approaching the greatness of the New York Rangers goaltender. He wants to earn that respect, be the guy in Toronto that Lundqvist has become in the borough of Manhattan. But he also knows that respect of that kind isnt earned overnight, in a week or with one season full of highlights. Its partly why he wont he even call himself the Leafs No. 1, even after finishing last season with career highs in wins, starts, and save percentage a€“ his .923 even-strength save mark fifth among goalies with at least 30 starts. Doing it for 55 games is nothing though, not compared to the nine fantastic seasons and 575 games of Lundqvist, who boasts 50 career shutouts, a cumulative .920 save percentage and one gleaming Olympic gold medal. Theres something about that track record, of being that guy year after year in the New York pressure cooker that perhaps not surprisingly appeals to Torontos unofficial No. 1. To me its not a matter of being a No. 1 or a No. 2, Bernier said, its just to prove that I want to win every night and prove that I can be one of the top in this league. And thats what Im working on every day to get better. It would seem that hes even out to prove to his own team, the same one that traded for and believed in his upside two summers ago, but also the same one that has yet to fully recognize him as their guy this fall. Head coach, Randy Carlyle, perhaps mindful of stirring the Toronto pot and likely paying some deference to James Reimer, has veered far away from talk about the top job in the Leafs crease. Its been the usual song and dance instead about two good goaltenders both being able to contribute, neither designated as anything but. We cant ignore what Bernier did for our hockey club, simple as that, Carlyle said on the first day of training camp. And we cant ignore what James Reimers done for our hockey club. Here we are at training camp and the questions going to be Whos No. 1? Is he clear-cut? Is he this? Is he that? Well, right now, we would have to say that [its] 1-A and 1-B. You laugh at me and you say hes full of this, hes full of that. [But] the reality is if you go to every team you have to have somebody thats going to emerge and be your guy. Bernier was that guy last season. He took hold of the goaltending reigns in late December and never looked back. And though he wont spell it out explicitly, it would seem that even Carlyles 1-A, 1-B designation is quiet fuel to the fire. At no point during the teams two-week training camp would Bernier proclaim himself this or that. His explanation earlier this week provided some insight as to why. Its up to Randy I guess, he said of being the No. 1. To me, Im not going to say Im the No. 1 [because] if I play 20 games this year then I look like a fool right? So it just depends on Randy, how much he wants to play me, how much he wants to play [Reimer]. But obviously it comes from the head coach. If the head coach says Ive got my No. 1 guy thats when you feel you are. Bernier earned the opening night nod against his hometown team. It didnt go great. Uncharacteristically quiet in the early going, Bernier didnt face his first shot until nearly five minutes had ticked off the clock. The shot, from Max Pacioretty, surprised him and snuck through, a bad goal he wouldnt hide from. Theres going to be a lot of bad goals in my career, just got to flush it out, he said afterward, four goals finding their way through on 32 shots. Bernier wasnt able to spend a ton of time on the ice this summer, undergoing sports hernia surgery after his first season in Toronto wrapped earlier that spring. He didnt get much game action in either, so the inactive start against the Canadiens didnt help much to jump into the rhythm of things. Bernier though hasnt been limited at all from the surgery; he felt fine after a month. What hes had to monitor and stay on top of instead is his left knee, which he injured in the Leafs fifth-to-last game of what was a disastrous late season collapse. Its nothing serious, he says. Patrice Bergeron, competing for position with former Leaf defender, Paul Ranger, fell in just the right spot. He felt the pain immediately when it happened, knew it right away. The injury is one that only heals with time. Its stiff from time to time, Bernier says, and requires a series of special stretches to get warm. Sometimes Ill feel a little pinch and obviously [Wednesday] that was a good test when I got run into it, Bernier said of Brendan Gallaghers charge into the net on Wednesday evening. Youre always kind of scared in the back of your head, but I have nothing to worry about. No two goalies were under siege last season quite like Bernier and Reimer, and if there was one encouraging sign for the former during exhibition season it was the hints of improvement defensively. The biggest thing, he noticed, was the stemming of opposition speed through the neutral zone. And as a goalie, and as a defenceman, thats probably the worst play in hockey when guys are coming full speed on the three-on-two or two-on-one, he said. I think we limited that and thats a big change for our group. If not exactly good pals, he and Reimer share a healthy respect for one another. I dont think its ever going to be a case where were buddy-buddy, said Reimer. Its not like were going to be going out for beers, but its a thing where we respect each other, we like each other. Its not necessarily about beating him out but its about playing your best and leaving it up to the coaches to decide, Reimer continued. Its not even necessarily that youre against the other guy, its more youre just playing your game, youre fighting as hard as you can and you hope that the coach gets impressed with how youre playing and you can get the nod. Bernier is hoping for the same. His path towards being a No. 1, which took a years-long detour in L.A., is now firmly underway in Toronto. Its a road thats only just beginning. China Jerseys Wholesale .FIFA says it is relaxing the rule which forced match officials to leave its international list at the end of the year they turned 45. China Jerseys Stitched . Both had to wait out a rain interruption lasting nearly five hours before taking comprehensive third-round victories to join Carling Bassett-Seguso (1983, 1986), Patricia Hy-Boulais (1996-97) and Daniel Nestor (1999) as Canadians who made it into the second week of a major. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/. 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MVP! in the fourth quarter, and it caught him off guard once again.It looks as if he better get used to that familiar cheer.Davis had 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Charlotte Hornets 100-91 on Tuesday night.For the second time in three home games, Davis was saluted with the MVP chant from the crowd. He has double-doubles in three of the Pelicans four games this season.Its crazy because I watched when I was younger . I watched LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant), (Kevin Durant), all them guys, and you could hear through the TV the chanting, the 21-year-old Davis said. And then youre actually at the line, theyre cheering for me.Tyreke Evans added 16 points and 10 rebounds in New Orleans first victory since its season opener. Ryan Anderson scored 16 points and Austin Rivers had 12, helping the Pelicans bounce back from Monday nights 93-81 loss at Memphis.The Pelicans (2-2) shot 46 per cent and outscored Charlotte by 10 points in the second half when they turned the ball over just three times.Charlotte (1-3) played without starting forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who bruised his ribs in a 96-93 loss at New York on Sunday. Al Jefferson led the Hornets with 20 points.We didnt keep playing, keep competing for every possession, Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. We had stretches of the game where we played well, but just basic stuff, not running back, not geetting our defence set and blown coverages.dddddddddddd Those things are on me.Davis had six points and six rebounds in the first half, but he picked up his play after the break. He scored 12 points in the third and also helped the Pelicans hold the Hornets to just six baskets in the quarter.I thought he wasnt getting the ball where he wanted to consistently, but then he started knocking down jump shots, Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. That opens up everything for him. He kind of looked like he did with the national team, where he was hitting every jump shot that came his way.Tuesday marked the first time Charlotte returned to New Orleans as the Hornets after reclaiming the mascot. Charlotte moved to New Orleans in 2002 as the Hornets, but was able to get the name back after New Orleans changed to the Pelicans.TIP-INSPelicans: New Orleans went 19 for 19 for its first perfect performance from the free-throw line since March 12. ... The Pelicans were without three players, including John Salmons, who is awaiting the birth of his third child.Hornets: Charlotte has lost three consecutive games after winning its season opener.SLOW STARTNew Orleans guard Eric Gordon is off to a rough start. He was 0 for 6 from the field against the Hornets, dropping to 7 of 34 for the season. He also has 10 turnovers and just three assists.UP NEXTHornets: Home against Miami on WednesdayPelicans: Visit reigning NBA champion San Antonio on Saturday. ' ' '