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TORONTO – The disappointment was evident all over his face. Attempting a re-launch of his NHL career this fall, Petri Kontiola, the former Blackhawks draft pick, was plainly dejected after his second exhibition game with the Leafs on Wednesday night. Kontiola, a 29-year-old who spent the past five seasons in the KHL, knew that what hed offered so far probably wasnt good enough. “Im not doing that well right now and I know it,” he said gloomily. “Thats about it.” Kontiolas biggest challenge in making the leap back to the NHL, as per Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle, was his ability to keep up with the pace of the game. And thats been precisely the struggle for the Finnish forward. His long, choppy stride appears just a step too slow for the high speeds of the NHL game, evident even at this early stage of the exhibition season. He teamed uncomfortably with Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk on a de facto top line against Ottawa, finishing without a shot on goal in about 13 minutes. “We try to use these games as assessment periods and sometimes people play themselves into situations and play them out of situations,” Carlyle said, not mentioning Kontiola specifically. “We tried to put people in situations where they can have the best possible chance for success and then thats when the evaluation process starts.” The evident fact of Kontiolas struggle, early as it may be in training camp, has made Torontos once uncertain centre dynamic become pretty clear pretty quick. With Kontiola seemingly out of the mix – hes not getting faster overnight – the final two centre spots would appear safely in the hands of Peter Holland and Mike Santorelli, an unproven duo in different regards. Given Carlyles stated intention of three “scoring” lines, Holland would seem the probable choice for third line centre duties beyond Tyler Bozak and Nazem Kadri. Just 23, the former first round pick has offered hints of promise in 68 NHL games – albeit inconsistently – including five goals and 10 points in 39 games with the Leafs last season. Making clear that he was just a rung above the American League in the spring, he went on to thrive with the Marlies in the playoffs, boasting 15 points in 11 games. But can he fulfill his potential with the increased NHL opportunity likely to come his way? That will indeed be the question. Santorelli could certainly push him for some of those offensive minutes, but appears better suited (of the two) to absorb the difficult minutes left by Jay McClement, a Carlyle favourite whom the organization let walk in the offseason. Under the direction of since-deposed Vancouver head coach John Tortorella, Santorelli was utilized in challenging defensive situations, also killing penalties along the way. And he fared okay, posting positive Corsi numbers at even-strength. If Carlyle can find in him a player to handle those difficult assignments in the coming year he could alleviate some of the burden carried by Bozak and the teams top trio, which was often overloaded against top lines a year ago. “Hes going to get opportunities,” Carlyle said of Santorelli. “We brought the player in feeling that he could make a contribution.” Unlike McClement, who scored just four goals in 81 games, Santorelli also offers some offensive potential. Averaging nearly 19 minutes, he scored 10 times in 49 games with his hometown Canucks, adding a 20-goal campaign to the resume in Florida a few years earlier. “I think as a player you want to come in and help with the team any way you can and thats all Im looking to do here,” said Santorelli, who also won 51 per cent of his faceoffs. As for Kontiola, his fight to remain in the race for a job with the Leafs hangs by an apparent thread. Though the transition to North American-sized rinks would seem a challenge, even for a player who spent two seasons over here, he refused to touch it after Wednesdays game, brushing it off as an excuse. “No, a good player can play wherever,” he said. The team wasnt quite as dismissive. “Were watching him very closely,” Peter Horachek, the Leafs assistant coach, said before the game, “as we are with a couple of the other centremen and seeing where they stand because theres some questions to be answered for our team coming through training camp.” One at least appears increasingly closer to a solution. Curtis Samuel Jersey . Blatter also told reporters Saturday after meeting with Qatars emir that the decision to award the tournament to the desert nation is "not reversible." There have been calls to move the tournament because of Qatars intense heat. Donte Jackson Jersey . Among the six changes: Drivers are now eligible if they have competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR or turned 55 in the calendar year before nominating day. 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Mario Addison Jersey .J. -- John Elway says Peyton Manning cannot stamp himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history even if he wins the Super Bowl on Sunday.PHILADELPHIA - Jonathan Papelbon sealed a victory with a fist pump, a reaction that certainly didnt offend the Phillies fans.Papelbon made his first appearance in Philadelphia since he made a lewd gesture as he left the field, closing out the Phillies 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night with a scoreless ninth inning.Yeah, I wanted to get back out there, Papelbon said. Just to get back on this field and compete, show everyone I come out to this field every day to compete. Everything else is kind of hindsight.The game was Papelbons first at home since he blew a save against the Marlins on Sept. 14 and lost his composure when he was booed coming off the field. He grabbed himself in response, and then bumped umpire Joe West.Papelbon denied that he was insulting the fans but served a seven-game suspension.The closer entered Friday to a chorus of boos that got louder when he was introduced by PA announcer Dan Baker.I didnt hear nothing, he said. I dont hear nothing out there when Im pitching.But the fans gave him a standing ovation when he got Joey Terdoslavich out on a grounder to end it for his 39th save in 43 chances, prompting Papelbon to pump his right fist before embracing catcher Carlos Ruiz.Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said he was a little curious about the fan reaction but didnt think it would affect his closer.Hes a professional about going about his business and being ready to close for us, Sandberg said. He had pretty good stuff tonight.Papelbon again said he wasnt trying to insult the fans on Sept. 14, but added that fans have the right to boo and cheer. Hed like to be defined by his on-field performance.Ive always hoped the perception of me is Im a hard worker, Im a team player and I come to win every night, he said. To me, everything else falls on the back burneer.ddddddddddddMarlon Byrd drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning groundout.Luis Garcia (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the win.Chris Johnson homered for Atlanta, which dropped its ninth in 11 games while falling to 5-18 this month.Philadelphia took the lead in the seventh off Jordan Walden (0-2). Ruiz led off with a walk and went to third on Ryan Howards one-out double before scoring on Byrds groundout to second.Howard snapped an 0-for-15 skid with the hit.Ervin Santana allowed four runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, ending the season with a 14-10 record.Jerome Williams gave up four runs on eight hits in six innings. The veteran right-hander finished 4-2 with a 2.83 ERA in nine starts for Philadelphia since claiming him off waivers on Aug. 10.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: Johnson returned to the lineup after missing Thursdays game with a lower back strain. He put his hands on knees, seemingly in discomfort, after fielding a ball in the first inning. But he showed no ill effects on his fourth-inning homer.Phillies: SS Jimmy Rollins missed his 17th straight game due to a strained left hamstring.UP NEXTBraves: Aaron Harang (11-12) makes his final start of the season and likely will surpass 200 innings when the teams play the second of the three-game series.Phillies: A.J. Burnett (8-17) will try to salvage a forgettable season. The right-hander leads the league in walks (93) and earned runs (105).CENTURY MARKAtlantas Justin Upton reached 100 RBIs for the first time in his career with a first-inning single. His previous best of 88 RBIs came in 2011 with Arizona.WOLEVER OUTThe Phillies fired assistant general manager and amateur scouting director Marti Wolever, general manager Ruben Amaro announced on Friday. Wolever had been the clubs scouting director since 2002. 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