iscussions to resolve various details. But two Super Bowls have come and gone -- and the 2013 regular-season op

TORONTO -- In their first-round playoff sweep of the Rochester Americans, the Toronto Marlies only conceded five goals. But in the first game of their second-round series against the Grand Rapids Griffins, they allowed seven. Tomas Tatar scored twice and added an assist as the Griffins thumped the 7-0 in Game 1 of the American Hockey Leagues Western Conference semi-final series on Friday night. "I cant remember losing a game like that since Ive been here," said Toronto head coach Dallas Eakins. "I loved the way that we started the game. I thought we came out stomping. It was exactly how we wanted to start." Mitch Callahan, Chad Billins, Teemu Pulkkinen, Luke Glendening and Jan Mursak also scored for the Griffins. Petr Mrazek made 25 saves in recording his second shutout of the playoffs. Its not that the Marlies were overmatched in any way. It was quite the opposite off the start as the Marlies came out firing, registering the first six shots on goal. But two quick Griffins goals in the first period put the Marlies on the back foot early and they were never able to recover. Mrazek was stellar for the Griffins and penalty trouble in the third period killed any chance of Torontos attempts to stage a late comeback. Marlies goalie Drew MacIntyre had a tough night giving up six goals on 28 shots and was replaced by Garret Sparks early in the third period. Sparks made 10 saves on 11 shots. "I was really bad. I was horrible," said MacIntyre. "I wasnt sharp. I did a lot of bad things. But I think Ill be fine." Callahan opened the scoring at 8:55 of the first after the Griffins worked the puck around quickly off a faceoff in the Toronto zone. Brennan Evans quickly picked up the puck and got it back to the point where Callahan fired through traffic. Just 34 seconds later, Billins was another recipient of some quick work off the draw as he fired in his first of the playoffs from the point. While MacIntyre was critical of his own performance, his coach was quick to come to his defence as MacIntyre has bailed out the Marlies repeatedly since joining the team in February. "None of those goals were soft goals on Drews part," said Eakins. "It was just one of those nights where everything they touched was going in that net and it was a night for us where we couldnt get anything. There was no let-up from the Griffins as they scored their third of the game just 1:14 into the second. After a poor Marlies clearance from the corner, Tomas Jurco found Pulkkinen beside the goal with a slap pass that Pulkkinen then converted from close range. Tatars first of the night game at 19:42 of the second when he was given plenty of time beside the Marlies goal to get a couple of shots at a loose puck before banging a shot in off MacIntyre. MacIntyres night was done after the Griffins added two more goals in the first 5:48 of the third. Theres not much time for the Marlies to dwell on getting blown out in game one. Game two takes place less than 24 hours later on Saturday afternoon. "I wouldnt want to be thinking about this one for much longer," said MacIntyre, admitting he was pleased that he gets another crack at the Griffins on Saturday. "Im really excited to get back out." Tatar got his second of the night when he came out from behind the goal and was given plenty of time to wait and pick his spot at 3:16. At 5:48, Glendening scored a close-range goal from MacIntyres right side. Notes: The Marlies were without defenceman Jesse Blacker who was called up by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Blacker had missed the entire first round with a lower body injury. a Spencer Abbott was also out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury. a Attendance on Friday night was 3,812. Cheap Nike Shox Sale . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Womens Nike Shox Clearance . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http://www.shoxnikesalecheap.com/ . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Nike Shox Shoes . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Mens Nike Shox Clearance . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked.The "final hurdle" to testing players for HGH this season apparently involves the NFL and union agreeing on whether Commissioner Roger Goodell will hear appeals for violations other than a positive test, according to a person who works for the league. The person sent an email Thursday to The Associated Press to update the status of negotiations between the league and the NFL Players Association. The information was provided on condition of anonymity because the sides talks about the drug policy are supposed to remain confidential. The person said that while several issues standing in the way of HGH testing have been resolved, "the final hurdle appears to be" the unions desire to have someone other than Goodell rule on appeals that involve violations of the law or "demonstrated use" of a performance-enhancing substance without a positive test. The email adds that the NFL does not "believe it is appropriate further to limit the commissioners disciplinary authority." It also says: "We have made clear to the NFLPA ... that we are not prepared to resolve issues relating to HGH on a piecemeal basis. Two years after agreeing to HGH testing in the first place, we think the goal should be to reach a comprehensive agreement on all aspects of HGH testing so that the program can be fullyy implemented for the current season.dddddddddddd" The league and union originally paved the way for HGH testing in the 10-year collective bargaining agreement they signed in August 2011, pending discussions to resolve various details. But two Super Bowls have come and gone -- and the 2013 regular-season opener is only three weeks away -- without a single blood test for human growth hormone having been administered. Since the current CBA went into effect, the sides have haggled over several aspects of the program, including the appeals process and the unions insistence on a population study to determine what constitutes a naturally occurring amount of HGH in NFL players. A memo sent to players by the NFLPA this week -- and obtained by the AP -- indicated that the population study process was settled, as was a tentative agreement to randomly test 40 players per week during the season. Thursdays email from the NFL employee refers to those as "agreed-upon elements regarding HGH testing." It also notes that the scientific experts in charge of determining a threshold for a positive test "plan to create a control group in addition to the pool of current player specimens" but says "there is presently no agreement of any kind involving a role for retired players in the study." ' ' '