BOSTON – The Maple Leafs have one more game before the New Year, but its already clear what their resolution for 2015 will be and it starts in the defensive zone. Vans Shoes Wholesale . Toronto got progressively worse defensively as the months of 2014 passed by, relying with increasing, alarming and familiar frequency on their goaltending tandem. The club has allowed an average of 38 shots against in the past 10 games, outshot by nearly 11 per game in that span. Theyve survived some nights on the pads of Jonathan Bernier, who is expected to be available to return Wednesday against the Bruins after missing the past two games with the flu. I think Im ready to go, said Bernier, after a short stint on the ice at Northeastern University on Tuesday afternoon. It just depends on Randys decision now. It wont be a difficult decision for the head coach given the 26-year-olds recent performance. Bernier was perfect in his final start before the three-day Christmas break, stopping all 43 shots in a win over Dallas. He posted a .928 save percentage in the month of December, despite facing an average of 37 shots per game. The Leafs won six of those nine starts, but have stumbled recently with five losses in the past six games. Their defensive (and coinciding possession) troubles have caught up to them, despite repeated calls for improvement. The shot clock usually doesnt lie, Bernier said. If they get 40-plus shots most of the nights, theyll win those games. Down with the flu since the early morning hours on Sunday, Bernier couldnt watch most of the past two defeats. The team hotel in Florida didnt get the game between the Leafs and Panthers – a 6-4 loss – though the middle frame of a 3-2 loss to the Lightning was available one night later. A product of the stingy Kings organization, Bernier has noticed a thing or two about whats ailed his second NHL club defensively and its tied to how little theyve had the puck, especially in the other end. I think the biggest thing is weve got to kill more time in their zone, he said. I think the biggest thing is weve got to cycle the puck more in their zone instead of just going for the rush game. I think weve got to spend more time wearing their [defence] down. When we play well, thats what we do. The Leafs have been the second worst possession team in December at 41 per cent and third worst overall this season. Even slight improvement there would be a small step toward a better 2015. Vans Old Skool Black Sale . -- Felix Girard scored on the power play in the third period to lift the Baie-Comeau Drakkar past the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-3 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Friday. Vans Shoes Outlet . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Watch the 2014 NBA Draft on TSN, Thursday at 7pm et/4pm pt. http://www.vansshoesclearancesale.com/vans-sk8-hi-clearance.html . The result was a game-winning, power-play goal. Chiasson snapped a third-period tie and lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory on Monday night. LONDON -- Andre Schuerrles hat trick sent Chelsea four points clear at the top of the English Premier League with a 3-1 victory at Fulham, capitalizing on Arsenal losing at Stoke on Saturday. Chelsea took until the second half to trouble the leagues bottom team, but Schuerrle then ripped through the defence with ease at Craven Cottage to keep Jose Mourinhos side on track for the title. Having not won on seven previous visits to Stoke, Arsenal came unstuck again as Jonathan Walters clinched a 1-0 victory from the penalty spot. Liverpool moved ahead of Arsenal on goal difference into second by winning 3-0 at Southampton in the late game. Manchester City dropped to fourth but it was only six points from the top with two games in hand, and could collect its first piece of silverware of the season against Sunderland in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. In the days biggest controversy, Football Association officials will be investigating Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, who was sent off for appearing to head-butt Hull midfielder David Meyler. The touchline altercation overshadowed Newcastles 4-1 victory at Hull. Everton recovered from back-to-back league losses by beating West Ham 1-0 and returning to sixth place. After Chelsea made the short trip to Fulham, Mourinho was so annoyed at a poor first-half display that he wouldnt speak to his players during the break. The silent treatment was motivation enough, and the team was transformed, with the opener coming seven minutes into the new half. From inside his own half, Eden Hazard picked out Schuerrle, who headed the ball past Dan Burn, ran forward and slotted into the nett. Vans Shoes Clearance. Schuerrle was on the end again when Hazard slipped the ball through in the 65th and the Germany midfielder scored. Torres was the creator for the third, with Schuerrle scoring again with ease in the 68th. Fulham came alive again in the closing stages, but all the team could produce was Johnny Heitinga tapping into an open net. At St. James Park, Newcastle wrapped up the victory before halftime with two goals from Moussa Sissoko and another from Loic Remy. But the real drama unfolded in the 72nd minute with the dismissal of Pardew, who faces a touchline ban. The apparent head-butt happened after Meyler barged into Pardew as he looked to retrieve the ball for a throw-in at KC Stadium. "He was right on top of me and I wanted to just ease him away from me but obviously I put my head in a forward motion," Pardew said. "I want to apologize." On the south coast, a fourth straight league win maintained Liverpools unexpected title push. Strikes from Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling, and a late penalty by Steven Gerrard pushed Liverpool above Arsenal into second. The Britannia Stadium proved unwelcome territory for another leading team, as Stoke followed up wins over Chelsea and Manchester United, and a draw against City, by seeing off Arsenal. The breakthrough came with around 15 minutes to go when Laurent Koscielny was penalized for a handball and Walters scored from the spot to clinch Stokes second win in 11 league games. "It is not slightly worrying -- it is a big worry for us to lose a game like that," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It is a massive setback." ' ' '