like that youre close to. Obviously, its going to have an effect

NEW YORK -- The New York Islanders will see an old friend Sunday night, when Matt Martin makes his first visit to Barclays Center as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. As glad as the Islanders will be to see Martin, theyd be even happier if their old offense returns, too.The Islanders will look to snap out of a season-long goal-scoring funk when they host the Maple Leafs in the opener of a five-game homestand. New York (3-5-0) last played Thursday, when it fell 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Toronto (2-3-3) will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set after losing to the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Saturday night.All eyes, at least early on Sunday night, will be on Martin, who spent the first seven seasons of his NHL career with the Islanders before signing with the Maple Leafs as a free agent in July. Martin was wildly popular with Islanders fans and teammates for his feisty on-ice demeanor as well as his locker room leadership and off-ice involvement with the community.The Matt Martin Foundation raises funds for a variety of causes, including children with cystic fibrosis. Martins girlfriend, Sydney Esiason, has a brother with cystic fibrosis.Im sure itll be emotional for me, Martin told Newsday on Saturday. I matured as a player and a person on the Island. Itll always be special for me. Im trying to win a game, but as soon as its over, Ill be rooting for those guys.The Islanders surely feel the same way -- especially about the trying to win a game part. New York, which has lost two straight, has been tied in the third period in all five of its losses.The major problem for the Islanders has been a struggling forward corps. Defensemen have accounted for eight of the teams 22 goals. Center John Tavares (four goals) is the lone forward with more than two goals, and left winger Brock Nelson and right winger Ryan Strome (two goals each) are the only other ones with more than a single tally.Left winger Andrew Ladd, who was expected to become New Yorks No. 2 threat upon signing a seven-year deal in July, has yet to score a goal and was actually played on the fourth line last Wednesday against the Canadiens.Were just not getting offense from our forwards right now, Islanders head coach Jack Capuano told Newsday following Thursdays loss. Weve got to find a way to score goals if this team wants to win games. End of story.The Maple Leafs enter in a bit of an offensive funk themselves. Toronto, which was held to fewer than two goals for the first time this season on Saturday, has scored seven goals in its last three games after racking up 18 in the first five.The good thing about this game is that maybe tonight you feel sorry for yourself, but then youre right back at it (Sunday), Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly said. Weve got a big game against the Islanders that weve got to win. Weve got another chance to redeem ourselves, so thats a good feeling.Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said goalie Jhonas Enroth will make his second start of the season Sunday. Enroth will likely face Islanders no. 1 goalie Jaroslav Halak, who started Thursdays loss.Enroth is 2-4-0 in six games against the Islanders. He was a member of the Los Angeles Kings the last time he opposed New York on Feb. 11, when Enroth took the defeat after stopping 25 of 29 shots in the Kings 5-2 loss at Barclays Center.Halak is 8-3-3 in 15 games against the Maple Leafs. He earned the win the last time he opposed Toronto on Feb. 12, 2015, when Halak stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced in the Islanders 3-2 victory at Nassau Coliseum. Cullen Gillaspia Youth Jersey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Lonnie Johnson Womens Jersey . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. http://www.officialhoustontexanspro.com/Deshaun-watson-texans-jersey/ . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Kahale Warring Texans Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Arian Foster Youth Jersey . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Rex Ryan hasnt jumped out of any airplanes this offseason. And the Buffalo Bills coach hasnt munched on dog biscuits, or issued any bold proclamations of building a bully.That was last year.It was a season which began with hype-driven, sky-high expectations following Ryans hiring, and ended with an enormous thud following an 8-8 finish and his reputation as one of the NFLs top defensive minds questioned.If the experience had a sobering effect, Ryan wouldnt acknowledge it: Nah, not a chance, he said.Even though hes reined in his larger-than-life personality, Ryan remains defiant, perhaps even more than ever.What stings is not the criticism he attracted for how his pride-and-joy defense unraveled because of on-field miscommunication and players openly questioning his approach. What gnaws at his core, Ryan told The Associated Press this week, is realizing for the first time in 11 years as an NFL coach or coordinator he wasnt true to himself.Nope, not even close. And it hurt, Ryan said, noting he made the mistake of attempting to twin his philosophy with the Jim Schwartz-coached scheme the Bills high-priced defense thrived under the previous season.I wish I had to do it all over again, but the fact of the matter is we dont, he said. But this years a brand new one. And like Ive said, I have a funny feeling well be a lot better.Theres actually nothing funny about it. Ryan has put aside his colorful antics and directed his attention to what happens on the field.Its evident in the changes Ryan made to his defensive staff, with the most notable offseason addition being his twin brother Rob, who was hired as assistant head coach.And its evident in the offseason roster moves the Bills have made to better suit Ryans aggressive 3-4 philosophy that relies on keeping opponents guessing.Sent out the door was high-priced defensive end Mario Williams, Ryans most vocal locker room critic. Most of the newcomers -- players Ryan can groom -- arrived with Buffalos top-three draft picks in linebackers Shaq Lawson and Reggie Ragland, and defensive tackle Adolphus Washington.It makes little difference to Ryan that Lawson will miss at least the first six weeks of the season recovering from shoulder surgery, or that Ragland sustained a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Ryaan insists the defense will be better after finishing 19th in the NFL in yards allowed.dddddddddddd.I own whatevers there, but I also own the other years that Ive coached in this league, which everybody seems to forget, Ryan said, referring to his track record of overseeing six defenses that have finished fifth overall or better.Some of the greatest defenses in the history of this game have the Ryan name on it, he said, including his brother Rob and father, Buddy. So guess what? Its back to Ryan defense.The challenge is personal because the task of maintaining the Ryan legacy now falls on him after his father and mentor died in June.Its like anybody who loses your father or something like that youre close to. Obviously, its going to have an effect on you, Ryan said. But for me, it even drives me more if thats possible.Bills players see few changes in Ryans approach. And yet, they believe Ryan was betrayed by the criticism stemming from his players.I dont think there was any doubt, defensive tackle Kyle Williams said. Some of the things said shouldve been said not to (the media). They shouldve been kept between players and coaches.As a result of the bickering, guard Richie Incognito said a group of leaders has emerged to reduce distractions and have players speak with one voice.We had some people kind of pulling in the opposite direction, and as people in this locker room and as coaches we didnt know how to handle it, Incognito said. I think what youre seeing here is the growing of a very strong. veteran presence.Ryan said the blame for everything that went wrong falls solely on him.Ive got broad shoulders, I can take it, he said. I can take most every damn hit known to man.His voice began to rise in detailing past challenges hes overcome, including earning a masters degree despite being dyslexic.Its easy to be a (chicken) and dont say anything, and then maybe after the fact you can boast, Ryan said, using a profanity for emphasis. But to me, I guess I grew up saying, `You know what, Im going to be great. And Ill dare to say it. And Ill dare to do it.That part hasnt changed about Rex Ryan.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '