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TORONTO – This was what Jonathan Bernier wanted all along. Erick Aybar Jersey . This is what he pined for as the backup in Los Angeles, stuck for years in the shadow of Jonathan Quick. And yet now that hes finally gripped hold of his first No. 1 job in the NHL, the 25-year-old knows that satisfaction is far from being attained. "Things can change," he said, mindfully. "You can be a No. 1 for 10 years and then next day, youre a backup. My goal is not to be a No.1 for a year or half a season, I want to be a good goalie for a long time, hopefully." Just 33 starts into that quest – by far the most of his NHL career – Bernier is off to a fine beginning. Starting for the 13th time in the past 17 games against the Lightning on Tuesday night, Bernier stopped 40 shots, including one of game-saving proportions on Martin St. Louis in the final moments. It was the kind of load-bearing performance that has become more norm than exception for Bernier, who is tied for sixth in the NHL in save percentage and fourth in even-strength save percentage among goaltenders with at least 20 starts. "When I got traded, I knew that was my chance to prove what I can do in this league," said Bernier, who is 5-1-0 in his last six starts. "My main focus was always to be a No. 1 guy and Ive still got a lot to learn, but I think Im moving towards that." He and James Reimer traded starts until mid-December before the crease eventually tilted in favour of the Laval, Quebec native. His performance month-to-month has rarely wavered – .933 save percentage in October, .923 in November, .932 in December and .915 so far in January. "I knew Randy, the type of coach he was," said Bernier of head coach Randy Carlyle, "I knew I had to really battle to earn [the job] which is the good way. You dont want anything for free in life. [But] I didnt really focus on how many games I was playing, I think I was just focusing on getting better every day and every game and it just worked out that I started playing good and he kept me in." Maybe most notable in his year-long efforts has been his ability to withstand a nightly barrage of shots and chances, a far cry from the Kings, who were a constant amongst the NHLs best defensive teams. In fact, Bernier is facing 11 more shots per start this season with the Leafs (35) than a year ago in Los Angeles. He sits a sparkling 7-1-2 when challenged with 40 shots or more. "I think we can still improve as a team," he said honestly of the groups performance. "[Were] still giving up a lot of scoring chances, especially I thought last game wasnt our best one, but were coming out with wins. I think if we want to be successful in the playoffs – Ive been through that – youve really got to bear down defensively and be a good defensive team." Though the goalie competition has gradually evolved into a one-man job, Bernier understands that he is a long ways from proven as a No. 1 starter in this league. But he also carries a certain degree of pride and quiet confidence knowing that hes accomplished what he set out to do upon landing in Toronto. "Its not like I said yesterday I made it, Im a No. 1, I think youre just going day by day," he said. "Obviously, Im happy the way things turned out." Orlando Cepeda Braves Jersey .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Nick Markakis Braves Jersey . LOUIS -- St. http://www.baseballbravesshop.com/chipper-jones-braves-jersey/ . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead.LOS ANGELES -- Brett Pill has been bugging Hunter Pence for hitting tips lately, and for good reason: His Giants teammate has homered in four straight games. Pill summed up Pences advice this way: "I just try to kill the ball." Did he ever against the Dodgers. Pence hit two more homers, Pill connected for a tiebreaking shot leading off the eighth inning, and San Francisco Giants beat Los Angeles 4-3 on Sunday. Pence said he simply told Pill, "I try to see the ball and hit it as hard as I can. Then he gets all mad at me." Pence got his revenge when Pill hit the second pinch-hit homer of his career. "I couldnt wait to ask him what was he thinking," Pence said, laughing. Pence has 19 RBIs in six games, the most for a Giants player in that span since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920, according to information provided to the Giants by the Elias Sports Bureau. "I dont think Ive ever seen anyone that hot," Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong said. Pence became the first Giants player to homer in four consecutive games since Barry Bonds from September 2005. Pence drove in three runs, a day after his grand slam and career-high seven RBIs led the Giants to a 19-3 rout at Dodger Stadium. "Its fun to watch when you see a good hitter locked in," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. Pence piled up the most RBIs in a series against the Dodgers since 1935, when Ripper Collins of St. Louis had 13 during a five-game set. "It was pretty tough to see out there, the sun is bright," Pence said. "I just block out anything that has happened (before). Lately, Ive been getting a lot of hits and some good fortune. Yesterday, I had two bloopers." The Dodgers rallied in the ninth, but pinch-hitter Yasiel Puig grounded out with the bases loaded to end the game. The NL West leaders lost three of four to San Francisco, and the magic number to clinch their first division title since 2009 remained at four after second-place Arizona won. "Were definitely looking for the clincher," first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. "We wish we would have been able to do it here at home, but getting it is the most important thing and getting our guys healthy." Pence joined Willie MMays as the only players in Giants history to homer in every game of a four-game set against the Dodgers, which Mays did twice. Freddie Freeman Braves Jersey. Pences five homers tied for the most ever in a series against the Dodgers, tying Philadelphias Mike Schmidt in 1979 (four games) and Pittsburghs Frank Thomas in 1958 (five games). "If Im mentioned with these names, its extremely humbling," Pence said. Jean Machi (3-1) pitched one inning. Sergio Romo closed for his 35th save in 39 chances. Paco Rodriguez (3-3) gave up Pills homer. Pence homered leading off the second for a 1-0 lead. "Were all kind of feeding off him, getting aggressive swinging the ball, having no fear," Pill said. The Giants tied it at 3 with two outs in the sixth on Pences two-run shot. Brandon Belt singled and moved up on a wild pitch by Edinson Volquez before Pence hit his 25th homer. "Thats one guy you really dont want to be leaving the ball up to at all," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Volquez didnt execute a couple of pitches and he made us pay." Los Angeles took a 3-1 lead in the fifth on Gonzalezs bases-loaded double down the right-field line. With one out, Volquez reached on an infield single, Dee Gordon followed with a single and Mark Ellis got hit by a pitch. The Dodgers thought they had tied it at 1 in the fourth, but a video review showed the ball bounced near the top of the centre-field wall and Juan Uribe was credited with a triple rather than a home run. Vogelsong allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings. Volquez gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings, struck out seven and walked none. NOTES: It was Pences ninth career multihomer game. ... The Dodgers were without SS Hanley Ramirez and OFs Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford, all of whom have nagging injuries. ... Giants 2B Marco Scutaro left the game in the middle of the third with lower back tightness. ... The Dodgers are the first major league team to exceed 3.5 million in attendance this season. They lead the majors in both average home and road attendance (35,622). ... After an off-day Monday, the Giants will spend the week in New York playing the Mets and Yankees, the first time theyve played both teams in the same week. Wholesale Jerseys China ' ' '