NEW YORK – HBO wanted Nazem Kadri to wear a microphone for a matchup with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins last week at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, but the 23-year-old politely declined. “Thank God I did because I was a mouthpiece,” said Kadri with a large grin. Kadri went toe to toe with Crosby that night – a 3-1 loss – jawing all evening with one of the greatest in the game. He had no trouble feeling like he belonged on the same stage as a player of Crosbys status, but with more challenging competition and significantly less luck than a year ago, he has found life considerably more difficult this season with the Leafs. Kadri had a scintillating 35 points through the first 34 games of last season, but through the same number of games this season he has a mere 22, still respectable but not quite at the electric level of his first full campaign in the NHL. Why the change? For one, quality of competition has increased for Torontos 2009 first-round pick. Because of injuries down the middle to Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland, Kadri has played higher in the Toronto lineup than he did in the lockout-shortened 2013. Since the start of December in fact, he has been paired with Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk on the top line, an audition which has presented its fair share of challenges. Kadri began with a bang, scoring twice against Dallas on Dec. 5, but since that point he has tallied just three points in nine games, the No. 1 unit unusually quiet through the first three weeks of the month. “Youre playing against a lot of good players,” Kadri told the Leaf Report before a Monday date with the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. “Youve just got to be consistent night in and night out basically.” Kadri was placed in an optimal role for success a year ago. Tucked in behind Bozak and Mikhail Grabovski on the depth chart at centre-ice, he lined up often against third and fourth lines, also rarely if ever squaring off against the oppositions top defensive pairing. And he took full advantage, totalling 44 points in 48 games, his skill often too much to handle. But with Bozak sidelined by an oblique injury until at least the end of December, Kadri, playing with the Leafs top-two scorers, has gotten the oppositions best just about every night. On Saturday against the Red Wings, he was held without a point or even shot on goal by Detroits top pair of Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson. “Hes a young player still cutting his teeth to become a higher level first line, second line centre, whatever word you want to describe an offensive player,” Randy Carlyle said of Kadri prior to the 5-4 shootout loss to the Wings. “Were asking a lot of a young player right now where last year we were able to use Nazzie more as a third line option and protect him from having to play up against the top two lines of other hockey clubs.” “Its everything I expected it to be,” Kadri said of the top line challenge. “Sometimes the puck swings your way some games, but defensively I think Ive really taken strides in the right direction. I know when youre doing everything else well those points are going to start to come.” Unlike last season, the pucks havent swung in Kadris favour very often so far. No player in the league had better fortune in 2013. The Leafs boasted a 15 per cent shooting percentage when Kadri was on the ice in five-on-five situations last season, the best mark of any player in the league. With luck on his side, Kadri accumulated 82 per cent of his overall at even-strength, his 36 points leading the team. Those numbers have predictably regressed this season. The Leafs shooting percentage with Kadri on the ice in five-on-five situations has dipped to 7.8 per cent, the 196th best mark league-wide. His offence at even-strength has fallen in tow, now counting for 59 per cent of his total attack. In spite of the elevated competition and predictable dip in luck, Kadri has still had a productive second season to date. He is on pace for 24 goals and 52 points, numbers about in line with those of a good second-line centre. Still quite young despite what seems like a lengthy tenure in Toronto, there remains plenty of room and opportunity to grow. (The faceoff circle remains one obvious point for improvement. Kadri has dipped to 42 per cent on the draw, the fifth-worst mark of any regular.) And if anything, his experience as the Leafs top centre – which will come to an end as soon as Bozak returns from injured reserve on Dec. 29 – should prove beneficial as a learning experience, a bar for Kadri to aspire to reach someday. “You just learn to be more responsible,” he said. “They rely on you more and I feel like thats making me a better player. Especially with how young I am, Im being able to develop with the best of the best and I think really thats the most important thing.” Cheap Predators Jerseys Authentic . "[People] keep asking that question and its not a legit question because we dont have that right, we havent arrived yet," Casey responded. "Weve got to take each game at a time, each possession at a time and look at it that way. Adidas Craig Smith Jersey . Louis still looking for a way out of Tampa Bay, the 38-year-old NHL veteran isnt showing his cards. http://www.adidaspredatorsjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-p-k-subban-jersey . George Hill had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who stayed atop the overall NBA standings despite losing twice on their West Coast trip. Los Angeles kept it close into the second half before the Pacers finished an easy win over the injury-riddled Lakers, who have lost five straight. Adidas Dan Hamhuis Jersey . -- During Kansas shootaround on Wednesday before the Jayhawks faced Oklahoma, coach Bill Self told Wayne Selden Jr. Adidas Kyle Turris Jersey . He learned about pressure and expectations at the 2010 Games in his hometown of Vancouver. His next mission is to build on that experience at his next Olympic appearance in Sochi, where he plans to ride the momentum from the teams strong start to the season.SYDNEY, Australia -- Rory McIlroy birdied the 18th hole to snatch victory from Adam Scott at the Australian Open on Sunday, winning for the first time in 2013 and denying Scott the rare Australian triple crown. McIlroy started the last round four shots behind Scott but drew level when he eagled the seventh and birdied the eighth. Scott went a shot ahead with a birdie at the ninth then the pair went shot for shot over the back nine before the tournaments dramatic climax on the final hole. Scotts approach shot went over the back of the green and his resultant chip went well past the hole, with two putts bringing a bogey. McIlroy hit his approach to 10 feet and sank the putt to claim victory by a shot and end his long wait for a trophy. "I wanted to get a win and finally Ive been able to get one," McIlroy said. "But more satisfying than that is being able to take one of the best players in the world down the stretch and come out on top. "Adam is a phenomenal golfer, a great competitor and probably an even better guy and I feel a bit sorry that I was the one that ruined the triple crown for him." Scott was attempting to be only the second player after compatriot Robert Allenby in 2005 to win Australias triple crown by claiming the Australian Open, Masters and PGA titles in the same season. He carried his form from the Masters and PGA tournaments into the Open, shattering the course record with a 10-under par 62 in his opening round. He came into the final day at 16-under par, with rounds of 62, 70 and 68, four shots ahead of McIlroy who was a further four shots ahead of the next challenger. That effectively made Sundays finnal round a shootout between the No.dddddddddddd 2-ranked Scott and Northern Irelands McIlroy, who was the worlds top-ranked player last year. Scott was left to rue a series of missed birdie opportunities, failing to hole six putts from within 12 feet during his final round. "Nothing was going my way on the greens today," Scott said. "I could have put this thing away early on if the putter was behaving how it should have, how it did the rest of the week." Both players took irons from the tee on the last hole and landed their shots adjacent to each other on the fairway. Scotts approach landed ahead of the hole but a cruel bounce sent the ball flying through the back of the green. Rather than pitch and run back onto the green, Scott chose to give his chip some loft. It failed to pull up, rolling onto the lower tier of the green and the local favourite did well to salvage a bogey. McIlroy stood assessing his ten foot putt during Scotts excursions, and after Scott holed out, McIlroy rolled in a slow putt that just made it to the hole. "I didnt think it was going to unfold the way it did," McIlroy said. "Its hard not to feel some guilt in the way I won it. "Having a one-shot lead going into the last having it taken away from you right at the very end, its tough." McIlroy finished with an 18-under par tally of 270, a shot ahead of Scott who was a further six shots ahead of Australian John Senden at 11 under. Senden and compariots Bryden MacPherson and Rhein Gibson, who tied for fourth at 9-under, all qualified for next years British Open. Calgarys Ryan Yip (74) tied for 39th at even par. ' ' '