Thumbs up to what is now, and, at this rate, will surely be at the end of the season, an interesting and completely wide-open Hart Trophy debate. The NHL reaches the exact mid-point of its schedule on this night of January 10th, and you are hereby invited to cast your vote for the most valuable player….so far. The leading point-getter is Jakub Voracek of the Philadelphia Flyers, currently a non-playoff team. The leading goal-scorer is Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars, currently a non-playoff team. You want to vote for Sidney Crosby? Thats a debate all its own. A goalie? Same thing, but if youre okay with a goalie, youve got Nashvilles Pekka Rinne or Montreals Carey Price. Defenceman? Nashvilles terrific first half brings Shea Weber to mind. Does Tampa Bays terrific first half bring Steven Stamkos to mind? Perhaps, but you might want to be mentioning Tyler Johnson instead. I give you now the choice that is most easily supported and least likely to bring howls of What? Really?--that is Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf. Seventh in the scoring race, captain of the team that has been at or near the top of the standings much of the way, and especially valuable during the 14 games played without Corey Perry on his right side. -- To Brendan Shanahan, heres a thumbs up, that, until yesterday, was a thumbs down. Im not suggesting that Shanahans meeting with Maple Leaf players and his message to fans via various media interviews contributed directly to the Leafs 17-shot, four-goal first-period explosion against Columbus, but Im not prepared to call it coincidental either. Not until three days after coach Randy Carlyle was fired was Shanahan seen or heard from. He might prefer the background to centre stage, but hes the team president and it is his team. Since being hired last April, he has retained and fired Carlyle, fired and replaced a staff of assistant coaches, and fired and replaced two of general manager Dave Nonis assistants while also adding a player personnel director, never mind whatever input he has had on player moves. Shanahan needs to be out front because hes the only one who can be under the Leafs awkward corporate setup. His boss, MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke, is waiting to be replaced or to leave when his contract expires in June, and is virtually persona non grata when it comes to representing the organization. The owners dont speak to such mundane matters as hockey results because theyre too busy with more important things and with battling each other in those other businesses. Nonis owns the title of general manager and does the work of a general manager, which means he does briefings, but when sermons need to be delivered, its Shanahan who must step forward. Kalani Vakameilalo Jersey . TSNs coverage of the Third Round gets underway Sunday with Game 1: Los Angeles at Chicago at 3pm et/Noon pt. TSNs broadcast schedule for the Third Round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs is as follows: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings• Game 1: Los Angeles at Chicago – Sunday, May 18 at 3pm et/Noon pt• Game 2: Los Angeles at Chicago – Wednesday, May 21 at 8pm et/5pm pt• Game 4: Chicago at Los Angeles – Monday, May 26 at 9pm et/6pm pt Featured in the broadcast booth for TSN are play-by-play announcer Chris Cuthbert and game analyst Ray Ferraro, with Farhan Lalji contributing reports from rinkside. Cheap Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . A day after FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said three stadiums would not be ready in time for the Dec. 31 deadline, Brazilian officials said they actually plan to deliver all six remaining venues after that date. They claim only three are delayed, with the other three being handed over after the expected date only because of problems accommodating the schedule of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who wants to be present for the ceremonies. http://www.cheapjaguarsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-tyler-shatley-jersey . PETERSBURG, Florida – Its been almost seven years since the Blue Jays last won a series at Tropicana Field. Alex McGough Jersey . Jagr had a goal and two assists, Andy Greene scored 43 seconds into overtime and Marek Zidlicky had two goals as the Devils rallied past the Washington Capitals 5-4 Saturday night. Abry Jones Jersey . Parmelee hit a game-ending shot in the ninth inning and the Minnesota Twins overcame David Ortizs big night to beat the Boston Red Sox 8-6 on Tuesday.Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Lou Williams scored 26 points off the bench to help the Toronto Raptors send the Indiana Pacers to another loss with a 106-94 decision on Friday. James Johnson notched 13 points in a reserve role, while Jonas Valanciunas and Greivis Vasquez added 10 points apiece with the former grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds in the win. Toronto has won three straight at Air Canada Centre. The Pacers lost their seventh straight game overall and their sixth straight on the road. Solomon Hill netted 16 points to lead Indiana. Rodney Stuckey and C.J. Watson each chipped in with 13 points apiece. The Raptors used a balanced effort on the offensive end during the first quarter. Five players scored at least four points and they held the Pacers to 29 percent shooting, leading 28-20 after 12 minutes. Williams gave Toronto a jolt off the bench, scoring 12 points in the seecond quarter and helping extend its lead at the break.dddddddddddd Roy Hibberts jumper with 3:13 left in the second cut the Indiana deficit to 53-42. Neither team scored the rest of the way as the 11-point margin remained at halftime. A quick 9-2 spurt for the Pacers cut the deficit to 60-55 less than four minutes into the third. The Raptors stretched the lead to 80-72 entering the fourth. Toronto put the game away early in the fourth as Johnsons tomahawk jam capped a 17-4 surge that increased the lead to 97-78 with 6 1/2 minutes left. Game Notes Toronto had a 52-39 rebounding edge and also outscored the Pacers 50-32 in the paint ... Patrick Patterson tallied 11 points of the Raptors bench, which outscored Indiana 64-45 ... Toronto went 20-of-22 from the free throw line ... David West had 12 points and seven rebounds in the setback