TORONTO - Early this season, the Washington Capitals battled fits of inconsistency and the confusion that comes with yet another coach and another system. Almost halfway through the season, they looked like a team that had everything together. The Capitals, in beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-2 Wednesday night, provided a blueprint for what Peter Horachek wants to accomplish the rest of the year. His mentor, Barry Trotz, took some time to get Alex Ovechkin and Co. to put the pieces together, but a recent stretch of at least a point in 14 of 15 games represents the consistency the Leafs want to find. I have a feeling theyre going to be playing a pretty similar system, Capitals forward Eric Fehr said of the Leafs. You cant do it all in one day. I think the most important part is the D-zone and we established that in training camp with a lot of physical battles in training camp and a lot of teaching. I dont know how much time theyre going to have to learn it on the fly, but its worked well for us now that we figured it out. Washington forward Brooks Laich, now on his fifth coach along with many of his teammates after stints under Glen Hanlon, Bruce Boudreau, Dale Hunter and Adam Oates, estimated it takes 50 to 60 games to really get your identity and identify how youre going to win. The Leafs dont have that kind of time, at least to salvage this season. At the midpoint, theyre 21-17-3 and a point out of a playoff spot. The Capitals, thanks to their recent run of success, are 21-11-7 and solidly in third place in the Metropolitan Division. Much has changed for Washington, not the least of which has been stronger play from goaltender Braden Holtby, who has a 2.33 goals-against average and .930 save percentage over the past 15 games. It means hes playing really well and it means were playing well defensively as well to give long-range shots, not second chances, that sort of thing, Laich said. Our five-on-five play has improved. Two areas of that is the wall play, breaking out of our zone, and the net-front traffic at the other end has drastically improved. The Capitals made roster changes from last season, with new general manager Brian McLellan bringing in defencemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen to stabilize the teams biggest weakness. The Leafs may find themselves in a similar spot this summer trying to shore up a few areas. But for now the teams have some similarities. Phil Kessel is a poor mans Ovechkin, a scoring winger who is the subject of criticism, and other key pieces match up, even if Washington has more depth of talent and the evidence to prove it from several playoff appearances. Still, when Trotz took over for this season, it was something of a fresh start. The longtime Nashville Predators coach had to drill his philosophies into a veteran group that had gone through plenty of coaching changes already. The player has to make the commitment. Thats where it starts, Trotz said. Ive been very fortunate that the guys that Ive gotten an opportunity to coach here, theyre committed to the buy-in and they wanted the change. ... Theyre a group that recognizes that theres a certain way we need to play as a group if were going to be successful. Horachek worked 10 seasons under Trotz as an assistant and then an associate coach for the Nashville Predators and could look to turn the Leafs into a version of the Capitals. But he doesnt have a long-term contract to work with, just 40-some games and the freedom that comes with lower expectations. On a very small scale, Horachek is already following his good friends lead, even if just subconsciously. Before his Leafs head-coaching debut, the 54-year-old said he wasnt going to rush changes, something Trotz was careful about in Washington. At the beginning of the season, Trotzy didnt want to give us too many adjustments, Fehr said. Weve slowly transformed our game into the way he wants us to play. I think hes done a good job of it, we understand what we need to do. I think were pretty consistent at doing it. General manager Dave Nonis cited inconsistency as the reason for firing coach Randy Carlyle. Horachek will try to instill something of that in the near future. Even in the 6-2 loss to the Capitals, Horachek pointed to limiting chances and shots and controlling puck possession as positives the Leafs can build off of. But Toronto is a long way from what its opponent was like Wednesday night. Change there has set in. I think its the way we use all five guys in the D-zone to help break out the puck, Fehr said. We do a good job coming back helping our defence find outlets. I think it really frustrates teams when they cant sustain pressure and we can just get the puck up and out. With the Leafs trying to become more of a puck-possession team, first under Carlyle and now under Horachek, the first step is getting the puck back. Horachek is expected to adopt some of Trotzs theories to make that happen and began making adjustments Tuesday in practice. Its what we used to call five, five and five, Horachek said. We want five guys in the defensive zone, in the neutral zone and in the offensive zone. Its all connected and we believe thats the way it has to be. Even if the Leafs hope to replicate the Capitals, it wont be a smooth process. Trotz knows from the past few months that there are growing pains associated with change. Even if youre playing well defensively you might not get the wins, Trotz said. You always get tested how far youre going to come off the rail, if you will, to have balance in your game. Weve been tested a few times and youve got to keep pulling it back. To me Ive been very fortunate, Ive got some really good leaders in the room, our leadership group is strong. Weve had some pointed talks, if you will, when its gone off the rails a little bit. Its unfair to expect Horachek to be a miracle worker, even though he worked under Trotz for so long. And as Laich knows, players need time to adjust to a new coach. A system is not a hard thing to execute, its not, Laich said. But it does take time to iron out every little detail of your switches in your own zone, your coverage changes, your side-to-side transitions, your rotations. Those are little, finite things that do take a little bit of time. Tyrann Mathieu Youth Jersey . Spieth again showed game well beyond his 20 years with a 9-under 63 on the North Course, giving him a one-shot lead over Stewart Cink going into the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open. Patrick Mahomes Youth Jersey . 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Harrison Butker Youth Jersey .Y. - Major League Soccer is prepared to start its season this weekend even if there isnt a labour deal with its referees and other on-field officials.PHILADELPHIA - Jameer Nelson scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and Nik Vucevic had 21 points and 13 rebounds to help the Orlando Magic snap a 16-game road losing streak with a 101-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. Nelson added 12 assists for the Magic, who last won on the road at Chicago on Dec. 16. Victor Oladipo added 17 points, and Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris scored 13 apiece. Thaddeus Young had 19 points for the Sixers, who lost their 12th straight overall and 11th in a row at home. Tony Wroten scored 15 points, Eric Maynor 13 and Henry Sims 10 for Philadelphia, which bought out the contract of Danny Granger earlier Wednesday. The 76ers finished 0-11 in February. Philadelphia did manage to keep the margin closer against Orlando. The Sixers entered having given up an average of 117.4 points during the losing skid, and they had been beaten by an average of 20.3 points before Wednesday. The teams began the fourth quarter tied at 67, but the Magic used an 18-8 run over the first 3:52 of the final quarter to take their largest lead to that point, 85-75, with 8:08 remaining. Nelson scored 10 of Orlandos points during the spurt, including a pair of 3-pointers. Orlandos lead grew to as many as 13 points and the Sixers never recovereed.dddddddddddd. Two 3-pointers from Hollis Thompson to start the second half helped Philadelphia take its largest lead to that point, 50-42, 50 seconds into the third quarter. But Orlando ran off 11 straight over the next 4:18 to go in front 53-50 with 6:52 left in the period. The Magics lead grew to as many as seven points, 65-58, with 3:05 left in the quarter on Harris free throws before Philadelphia closed the period by scoring nine of the final 11 points to enter the final quarter tied at 67. Philadelphia completed a buyout of the contract of Granger on Wednesday night, enabling the veteran forward to sign with any team if he clears waivers by 5 p.m. on Friday. Granger was acquired from the Indiana Pacers last Thursday for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen but never played a minute for Philadelphia. The 76ers also received a 2015 second-round draft pick in the deal. NOTES: Orlandos Arron Afflalo (right ankle sprain), who averages a team-leading 19.7 points per game, missed his third straight game. . The Magic entered Wednesday averaging 89.4 points during their road losing streak. . The Sixers are scheduled to retire Allen Iversons jersey during Saturdays game against Washington. . The Sixers home losing streak is the longest since they lost 12 straight in the 1996-97 season. ' ' '