TORONTO a€“ It was 10:49 on Wednesday morning at the Air Canada Centre and Randy Carlyle, the Maple Leafs head coach, had his team gathered around the boards in front of the official scorers table. The directive, lasting less than a minute, ended with one succinct message. Its up to you now, Carlyle said to the 23 players assembled around him. But so many of the questions surrounding this version of the Leafs a€“ searching for just their second playoff berth in the past 10 seasons a€“ come down to Carlyle and his ability to adapt and affect change this season a€“ alongside a revamped coaching staff, no less. Will they possess the puck more? Can they defend better? Can they play the speedier style hes talked about implementing this fall? Can they find contributions from four lines? Can he get the group, ultimately, to buy into the product hes selling? The earliest indicators to those ongoing questions took their first form in the Leafs 4-3 season-opening loss to Montreal on Wednesday night. Save an unfortunate first goal from Max Pacioretty a€“ one that fooled Jonathan Bernier a€“ Toronto broke out with the start they were looking for. They were fast, on the attack and in control territorially after 20 minutes, ending up with a one-goal lead on markers from Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak. We started the way that we wanted to start the game a€“ the style of play that we want to play, said Dion Phaneuf afterward, his nearly 24 minutes leading the team. But then things went south in the middle period. Feet stopped moving, pucks were given away, speed dried up and the Canadiens held court in the Toronto zone for long stretches. It was akin to the teams many letdowns of last season. One spell saw the top line (which was probably its worst on this night) trapped in its own zone for more than a minute and a half, three shots from Montreals top line of Pacioretty, P.A. Parenteau and David Desharnais fired on Bernier. The Habs struck early in the period to even the score; Plekanec snuck in behind the pair of Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner and deposited the Habs second goal. I thought the second period we got back on our heels and we stood around and watched, said Carlyle. We didnt support the puck, we turned it over a€“ we were continually turning it over and Montreal took the game to us. The teams traded chances in the third, an even 20 minutes that saw the visitors laugh last on the second goal of the night from Plekanec, one that ricocheted off the skate of rookie Stuart Percy and into the goal behind Bernier. It was the capper of the Leafs first regulation loss on opening night since 2006. They had clipped the Canadiens in four straight season openers. For Carlyle, though, it was a generally positive start. Most notable was the balanced lineup. The Leafs were able to roll four lines deep into the third period of a close game, only one forward finishing with less than 10 minutes. His team, stylistically, also looked the part of a speedier, more aggressive unit. In terms of territorial control, too, the Leafs were just about equal with the Canadiens, felled in many ways by the off-night of their top line a€“ on the ice for two of the four Montreal goals a€“ so consistent a force last season. Toronto gave up a fair share of opportunities a€“ burned a couple times because of it a€“ but save for some wobbly, enduring points in the middle frame, they were also far from the mess of a year ago. Some good, some bad in the opener. Five Points 1. Rookies Both Brandon Kozun and Stuart Percy made themselves noticed early in their NHL debuts. The surprise hit of training camp, Kozuns first period attempt on Carey Price was redirected by Nazem Kadri for the Leafs first goal of the season. Late in that same period, it was Percy retrieving his own shoot-in on the power-play and then dishing to Tyler Bozak for the second goal. Of the two, it was the defenceman who made the bigger impression. A first round pick in 2011, Percy played more than 20 minutes alongside Roman Polak. He garnered first power-play duty alongside Phaneuf, killed penalties in tandem again with Polak and rarely looked rattled by the weight of his first NHL game. I thought Stu had a heck of a hockey game, Carlyle said. He moved the puck effectively. Hes very, very calm with the puck. His night ended on the most unfortunate of terms. In attempting to connect with Alex Galchenyuk in front of the Toronto goal, Plekanec fired the puck off Percys skate and into the net with 43 seconds left on the clock. It was an unlucky moment hell surely never forget. Bernier made sure he knew it was luck and nothing more. Obviously its not his fault, said Bernier. He doesnt need to get down on himself after that. 2. Balance In Torontos season opener one year earlier, two forwards a€“ Carter Ashton and Colton Orr a€“ played fewer than four minutes, including just five shifts that amounted to two minutes and forty-seven seconds for Orr (who passed through waivers Monday and is now with the Marlies). Better balance was the idea when the Leafs stocked up the depths of their forward ranks in the summer and that balance was noticeable in the opener. All but one of the 12 forwards dressed garnered double-digit ice-time a€“ Matt Frattin just missing out with 9:24. 3. Philosophy Brendan Shanahans predecessor made no secret of what he wanted his teams to look like when he landed with the Leafs full of thunder in Nov. 2008. We require as a team proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, and belligerence, Brian Burke said famously at the time. Thats how our teams play. Shanahan has kept bold statements of that kind to a minimum since he was named team president back in April, but allowed a peek into his philosophy on Wednesday afternoon. The puck is something we have to own a little bit more, said Shanahan. Thats the key to the hockey game. Both teams, whether theyre a big, tough, dump-and-chase team or a skilled, quick, puck-handling team, everybodys looking to control the puck, control the game. 4. Robidas Debut One hundred and sixty-three picks after the Ottawa Senators picked Bryan Berard first overall in 1995 did the Montreal Canadiens select Stephane Robidas out of nearby Sherbrooke, Quebec. Robidas was one of six players making their Leafs debut on Wednesday night. The 37-year-old donned an alternate letter in facing his former team, the groundwork for that decision laid during a summer meeting between player and team brass. In his role, we felt that he would be a guy that could provide leadership, not only to our younger players, but some of our older players, said Carlyle, prior to the game. He could share minutes and he could make a contribution, not [only] on the ice. And thats what hes done all his career. So we dont look at it that were asking him to do something hes not comfortable doing. Robidas logged 20 minutes in his debut. 5. Roster Evolution Just how different was the Leafs lineup from exactly one year earlier? Leafs Opening Night 2013-14 van Riemsdyk Bozak Kessel Lupul Kadri *Kulemin *Raymond *Bolland *Bodie *Ashton *McClement *Orr *Gunnarsson Phaneuf *Reimer Gardiner *Franson *Fraser *Ranger Leafs Opening Night 2014-15 van Riemsdyk Bozak Kessel Lupul Kadri *Kozun *Winnik *Holland *Frattin *Komarov *Santorelli *Clarkson Phaneuf *Robidas *Bernier Gardiner *Rielly *Percy *Polak *changes Stats Pack 57-58 a€“ Corsi, slightly favouring Montreal in Wednesdays opener. 20:21 a€“ Ice-time for Stuart Percy in his NHL debut. 11 a€“ Leafs forwards with at least 10 minutes on Wednesday. 7 a€“ Leafs opening night unbeaten streak (5-0-2) snapped with the 4-3 decision. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-3 Season: 33% PK: 2-2 Season: 100% Quote of the Night Obviously its not his fault. I just gave him a tap on the back. He doesnt need to get down on himself after that. -Jonathan Bernier, on his message to Stuart Percy following Tomas Plekanecs game-winner. Up Next The Leafs host the Penguins at home on Saturday before visiting the Rangers in midtown Manhattan on Sunday. Wholesale Balenciaga Speed Trainer . It took five games, but the Celtics finally helped Stevens earn his first NBA victory. "Im going to celebrate for a whole 12 minutes, and then Im going to start watching Orlando and trying to figure them out," the first-year Celtics coach said after Boston beat the Utah Jazz, one of the leagues other winless teams, 97-87 on Wednesday night. Balenciaga Triple S Sale . 1. Did the Senators trade the wrong goalie? Lets make one thing clear: The Ottawa Senators acquired Ben Bishop from the St. Louis Blues for one reason and one reason alone. http://www.balenciagacheapshoes.com/ . Ashley Wagner will skate in the womens short program for a U.S. team thats in seventh place. Davis and White won the silver medal at the Vancouver Games and are two-time world champions. Balenciaga Triple S Discount . No, really, his head. Late in the game, the St. Louis goalie craned his neck into the air to block a shot, taking a puck square in the mask. Balenciaga Sock Shoes Sale . Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse will reunite at this weekends season-opening World Cup at Canada Olympic Park as they begin their buildup to the Winter Games in Sochi.SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Former Brazil and Barcelona star Rivaldo officially retired on Saturday after a 24-year career that he said was built "upon a miracle" that allowed him to overcome financial challenges and disappointments. The 41-year-old midfielder, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, hadnt been playing at a top level for several years and finally decided to end his career with an announcement on his Twitter and Instagram accounts. FIFAs player of the year in 1999, Rivaldo had been playing sparingly for minnow Brazilian club Mogi Mirim. He is expected to remain as the president of Mogi Mirim, where his 18-year-old son is now playing. "With tears in my eyes today I would like first to thank God, my family and all the support (and) the affection that I received during those 24 years as a player," Rivaldo said in a statement published both in Portuguese and in English. "Today, I communicate to all my fans in the world (that) my history as a player came to the end." The talented playmaker thrived in Brazil and abroad in the 1990s, winning two Spanish league titles with Barcelona and the 2003 Champions League trophy with AC Milan, which was his last top European club, before spending time in Greece and finally returning to Brazilian football four years ago. The last top team he played in Brazil was Sao Paulo in 2011, but he was released after an unsuccessful stint in which he played only a few matches as a starter. Before rejoining Mogi Mirim, the team thatt launched him to the national scene in 1994, Rivaldo played for Kabuscorp in Angola and then for Sao Caetano in Brazil, which he left last year citing knee pain.dddddddddddd In his statement, Rivaldo mentioned the hardships that he had to overcome early in his career. He said there were "many obstacles, challenges, waivers, longings, disappointments," but also "much greater joys, achievements, growth (and) change" that allowed a "distant dream" to come true. "I built my career upon a miracle, (living) in (the small city of) Paulista, no financial resources, no businessman, incentives only of my family, discredited by doctors and trainers," he said. "With persistence, dedication and especially with the hand of God, I came to be recognized as the best player in the world, world champion." Along with his statement, Rivaldo published a photo of him with tears in his eyes and another of him alongside his son, Rivaldo Jr. Last month, they got to play together in a Mogi Mirim match and Rivaldo said he fulfilled a longtime dream. Rivaldo also played in the 1998 World Cup, when Brazil was runner-up to France. With the Selecao, he also won the 1997 Confederations Cup, the 1999 Copa America and a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Rivaldo also previously played for traditional Brazilian clubs Palmeiras and Corinthians, as well as for Deportivo La Coruna in Spain, Olympiacos and AEK Athens in Greece, and Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan. ' ' '