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TORONTO – David Clarkson paused to consider the query. "Its a tough question," he said before carefully choosing his words. Knowing the result of his actions, would the 29-year-old leap off the bench to defend a teammate if the situation were to arise once more? "Different situations call for different measures, right," said Clarkson delicately on Wednesday afternoon, never quite answering the question directly. "I think you learn from things. And like I said [previously], I made a decision with my heart, not with my head but I try to play with my heart on my sleeve and play that same way all the time." Shelved for his actions in defending Phil Kessel from Sabres tough guy John Scott on Sept. 22, Clarkson finally served the 10th and final game of his suspension Tuesday night and will make his much-anticipated Leafs debut in Columbus on Friday evening. After nearly a month of waiting to debut in the sweater he grew up wearing, a month of lingering as an extra forward at practice, a month as an outside ingredient to his teams early season success, Clarkson can finally prepare to play in his first regular season game with the Leafs. "It felt long," he said. "When the teams winning obviously it makes it shorter, but it felt like quite a while." The Leafs managed to reel off seven wins (7-3-0) in his absence – in addition to regulars Nik Kulemin, Mark Fraser and Frazer McLaren, all due back soon – plugging holes with youth amid an admittedly uneven start that featured sturdy netminding, terrific special teams, and inconsistent performance in the remaining underlying areas. Clarksons brash presence will be a welcome addition. He was the clubs marquee offseason acquisition – inked a massive seven-year deal worth $36.75 million – a player Dave Nonis described as "great mix of skill and character and grit". Once a 30-goal man, the Leafs are counting on Clarkson to offer an irritating physical presence in their top-9, leadership from a Stanley Cup Final appearance in New Jersey, and of course, something in the way of offence, though not necessarily 30 goals. But in spite of the simmering expectations of his debut, additionally stoked by his return home and the weight of that sizeable contract, Clarkson understands he cant run around and earn it back all at once. "Thats one thing I cant do," he said. "Its easy when youve been suspended to try to come back in the lineup and try to overdo things. Ive got to just come in and take it step-by-step, [do] what I was brought here to do; thats go around the net, put the puck in the net, be physical, [be] good in my own zone, do all those things, not try to do too much." Though nothing has been declared yet by head coach Randy Carlyle, Clarkson would seem to be a fit alongside Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul, the latter filling a roster void at right wing while Clarkson and Kulemin remained out. Wherever he ends up, Clarkson will be a definite upgrade over the inexperienced youth he is set to replace, a strong bet to trigger improvement defensively and in the dirty areas down-low in the offensive zone. To pass the time and remain fit during his first NHL suspension, Clarkson skated twice daily – both at practice and often with skating consultant Barb Underhill – also employing the services of strength coach Anthony Belza during off-ice workouts. That and extra time with family. "My wife is probably ready to get me out of the house and back at the rink," he grinned. Though he has not played since Sept. 27, Clarkson did not believe that rust would be a factor in his return to the Toronto lineup. Ultimately, the experience is not one hed like to endure again. "At the end of the day its different when youre in the National Hockey League and youre starting a new chapter of your career or your life and youre suspended," Clarkson concluded. "Luckily enough Ill be here for quite awhile and have a lot of home openers to play. But the big thing is the team was successful and Im just coming in now fresh and feel great on the ice. "Im excited here for Friday night." Cheap Willie Horton Jersey .ca. Hi Mr. Fraser, When I was watching the Heritage Classic in Vancouver there was a play midway through the third where Ottawa crashed the Canucks net and it came off its moorings. Cheap Kirk Gibson Jersey . Huntelaar also had a penalty saved by Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio. The two goals brought Huntelaars total for the season to 18, level with Bayern Munichs Mario Gomez for most in the league. http://www.cheaptigersjerseys.com/?tag=c...y-mclain-jersey. Al Horford said all he had to do was make the catch near the basket and then shoot a soft jumper. Cheap Sparky Anderson Jersey .Carla Fontes hadnt cut her hair since intermediate school, but her coach at Waiakea High School, Stan Haraguchi, thought the locks flowing below her waist were interfering with the sport. Wholesale Tigers Jerseys . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington.ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild gave Zach Parise all that money for games like this. Parise signed that megadeal two years ago for games even bigger than this. They forced at least one more with a furious finish. Parise scored early and late on tipped shots, and the Wild tacked on two empty-net goals for a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night that sent the first-round playoff series to a decisive Game 7. "Its one of those nights where you just want to keep touching it and keep having the puck," said Parise, who added two assists for a career-playoff-high four points. The teams will meet in Denver on Wednesday night, with the winner taking on the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference semifinals. "We dont have any time to hang our heads here and feel sorry for ourselves," Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog said. "Were just going to get right back on the horse here and get ready for Game 7." Ah, Game 7. An already-tight series will produce one final dramatic performance. "We didnt sign here to win a first-round game. We look at the big picture," said Parise, who joined close friend Ryan Suter in signing 13-year, $98 million contracts with the Wild two seasons ago. The Wild were in trouble at the second intermission after what Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said might have been his teams best period of the whole series. Parise scored just 49 seconds into the game on a power play and Mikael Granlund made it 2-0 later in the first period, but a costly turnover by Suter at the end of a failed 5-on-3 situation led to a short-handed goal for the Avalanche when Paul Stastny scored for the fourth time in the series. Nick Holden got the tying goal in the second period to stop the power-play skid for the Avalanche, who had been denied by a resurgent Wild penalty-kill unit in 19 of 20 previous opportunities in the series. The Wild stumbled through to the second intermission, lacking the edge they had here throughout Games 3 and 4 and in the first period of this Game 6, and the atmosphere in the building became anxious, with one more goal by the Avalanche holding tthe power to end the home teams season.dddddddddddd So Wild coach Mike Yeo gave his team a spark by reuniting Parise on the first line with centre Mikko Koivu, who had two assists. "I think we started to get a little bit of fear in our game. Not necessarily afraid of them, just afraid maybe of what we were losing," Yeo said, adding: "Both of those guys were leading the charge up front and for me, their determination, their kind of get-after-it attitude, I wanted those guys going out together." Parked in the crease with the season on the line, Parise took a shove in the back from goalie Semyon Varlamov and then outmuscled defenceman Erik Johnson for position on Koivus shot from behind the circle that he knocked in with his stick with 6:29 left in the game. Roy pulled Varlamov with 2:44 remaining, and this time the daring move backfired after it led to tying goals for the Avalanche in Games 1 and 5. Jason Pominville and Marco Scandella found the back of the net for the Wild, and the celebration was on. Matt Duchene returned to the Avalanche lineup and notched an assist in extensive time on the power play, after missing the last month due to a left knee injury. The Avalanche leader with 70 points during the regular season, Duchene wasnt cleared for action until minutes before faceoff. "He was flying out there. He was playing well. He was playing hard," Roy said. He wasnt the only one. Ryan OReilly had two assists, and the Avalanche refused to express any frustration afterward, even though theyll be in an elimination situation for the first time in the series. "If thats what its going to need to be, then thats what its going to need to be," Avalanche right wing P.A. Parenteau said. "Its been a battle back and forth with the Wild. Were lucky we have the home ice advantage, but were going to have to be ready." NOTES: The Wild went 18-4-2 when Parise scored a goal in the regular season. ... Duchene said he felt all right: "Youve got to learn to trust an injury like that coming back, and as the game wore on I felt a lot more confident with it. Theres still a long ways to go." ' ' '