TORONTO -- Dion Phaneuf admits he made a mistake. USA Soccer Store . The Toronto captain said Thursday he erred in not talking to reporters following the Maple Leafs 5-3 home loss Tuesday night to the St. Louis Blues. Phaneuf was widely criticized for blowing off the media following the clubs sixth straight loss that dropped it to 10th in the Eastern Conference standings. "I shouldve been available, thats about all Im going to say about it," the veteran defenceman said following Thursdays practice. "I cant remember the last time I didnt make myself available but I shouldve been available." On Wednesday, a day off for the Leafs, Phaneuf told a Toronto all-sports radio station he didnt talk because he was too emotional following the loss. "I just didnt play well enough," he said. "Bottom line, I wasnt even close to the level I have to play at. "I accept responsibility for that. I will be better." Phaneuf and his teammates dont have time to fret about their respective situations. Toronto visits the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night in one of just eight regular-season games remaining for the Leafs. The contest is important for both teams. Philadelphia (38-37-7, 83 points) is sixth in the Eastern Conference heading into action Thursday night. Toronto (36-30-8, 80 points) is tied in points with Columbus, Detroit and Washington, but all three clubs having games in hand on the Leafs. With each mounting loss, the Leafs find themselves increasingly under the media microscope in Toronto. There was no shortage of TV cameras and media at Thursdays practice. "If you look back two weeks ago we werent having to answer these questions, but the reality is were where were at right now," Phaneuf said. "We havent won in six games and when you dont win hockey games there are questions asked and theres every right to ask those questions because its our job to win games. "Im not going to stand here and say weve played well, we havent. I know right now it seems were at a low point but well come through it." And for head coach Randy Carlyle, the turnaround wont come about by continually harping on how tight the Leafs have played during the streak. "The more you talk about it, the more you focus on the tightness the harder it is to flush," he said. "We have to be prepared to look at the positives that are in the hockey game, the things weve done well and not focus on the negatives. "Pressure comes from within, comes from outside, it comes from everywhere. I think the amount of pressure you put on yourself to perform is really and truly who you have to answer to." But Carlyle didnt sugar-coat Torontos current situation, either. "We feel theres a lot of areas in which there are some positives but you cant look past weve lost six in a row," he said. "Bottom line, theres no other way to say it. "We cant feel good about ourselves but we have to prepare ourselves to play the best game of the year (Friday)." Toronto could have defenceman Paul Ranger back Friday. Ranger left a 5-3 home loss to Tampa Bay on March 19 on a stretcher with a neck brace after being hit by Lightning forward Alex Killorn. "I feel pretty good but Ive got to talk to the trainers and doctors and see if they can clear me to play," Ranger said. "I think its just a combined decision (Friday). "If I can help in any way Im going to and I plan on it. I had some encouraging words from teammates and trainers saying, We could use you back. It felt pretty good. Im excited to get back into a game and contribute as much as I can." Carlyle would consider playing Ranger in Philadelphia if the defenceman was cleared medically. "He looked good (Thursday)," Carlyle said. "As soon as the player tells us, then we have an option." Toronto has been plagued by poor starts over its losing streak, something Carlyle says gives the opposition an advantage. "It seems like were chasing the game and when you chase the game you have to open up and that gives the team youre playing against more opportunities," he said. "Its tough enough when youre on an even keel . . . especially at this time of year. "The bottom line is we have to find a way to start better and continue it." Forward Phil Kessel agreed. "It helps to get the first goal," he said. "Youre up one instead of being down one or down two. "Its tough to come back in this league." Given the intense media glare in Toronto, forward Nazem Kadri said its hard for the Leafs not to feel pressure to win. "When you drop six straight its definitely hard to focus on other things," he said. "Weve had some meetings and understand this is desperation time. "We have to play for our lives so we have to go start acting like it." Defenceman Cody Franson said the Leafs psyche remains solid. "I think were in a good spot," he said. "Obviously weve been through a tough stretch here but . . . were very aware of our situation and we all want to do the right things to get this back on the right foot. "Were aware of what we have to do. We dont feel sorry for ourselves, weve played well in a lot of games and done a lot of good things and were going to build on that." Toronto returns to the Air Canada Centre on Saturday versus Detroit, the first of four straight home games. After facing Calgary (Tuesday), Boston (Thursday) and Winnipeg (April 5), the Leafs will end the regular season with road games against Tampa, Florida and Ottawa. "Its not like were out of a playoff position," defenceman Jake Gardiner said. "Were in a decent spot, we can still compete for those last two spots and just see what happens. "Yeah, theres always that pressure . . . but we know we have a good team in here and we know we can do it. Its just a matter of playing the way we know we can." Cheap USA Soccer Jerseys . All of 46 seconds into the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 victory over Alex Ovechkins struggling Washington Capitals, Crosby assisted on Chris Kunitzs goal. USA Soccer Jerseys 2019 . Torres calmly stroked a 51st-minute spot kick down the middle with goalkeeper Romel Quinonez diving right to convert a penalty earned by Javi Martinez. Spain controlled play at the Sanchez Pizjuan but found it hard to convert against a well-organized Bolivian team before Iniesta charged forward to curl around Quinonez in the 84th to seal victory. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . -- Lara Gut of Switzerland regained the overall World Cup lead with Sundays super-G win in Lake Louise, Alta.NEW YORK -- David Price cant control the trade speculation. The opposing hitters, he can handle them just fine. Price came within one pitch of extending his remarkable strikeout streak, yet still did plenty to lead the resurgent Tampa Bay Rays over the New York Yankees 2-1 on a warm Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory. "Stay here, David," Rays manager Joe Maddon implored. James Loney hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning and the Rays matched their longest win string of the season. Derek Jeter tied Lou Gehrigs team record for doubles as the Yankees equaled their worst skid this year with their fourth loss in a row. Price (7-7) struck out nine -- he fanned at least 10 in each of his previous five starts, and was trying to join Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers to accomplish the feat six straight times. "That wouldve been cool," Price said. The left-hander gave up four hits and was pulled after seven innings and 119 pitches. He fanned Francisco Cervelli for the second out in the bottom of the seventh, then got two strikes on both Yangervis Solarte and Brett Gardner, missed with a couple of close pitches and couldnt quite get strikeout No. 10. In 23 career starts against the Yankees, Price has never reached double digits in strikeouts. The Rays, who spent most of June with the worst record in the majors, have won six of seven. Their recent struggles had fueled talk that Tampa Bay might trade Price before the July 31 deadline. Price has said that the more the Rays win, the better chance he has of staying with his original club. "I just play ball," the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner said. "Thats my job." Jake McGee pitched a perfect eighth and Grant Balfour worked around a pair of walks in the ninth for his 11th save in 13 chances. Maddon has gone to a closer-by-committee approach. He said he picked Balfour this time because of a bit of "karma" -- the manager saw the reliever walking his grandmother into the team hotel lobby earlier in the day. "True," Maddon said. Balfour said his grandmom, in her mid-80s, came from the familys home in Australia to see one game at Yankee Stadium. "Im sure she was happy I was able to get in tonight," Balfour said. New York (41-41) has dropped eight of 10. &quuot;The guys we have, theyve got to get it done. USA Soccer Gear. Thats the bottom line," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "As I said, its not just a couple of guys going, its a number of guys." "No one is going to feel sorry for you," he said. "No one has a magic potion. You just have to grind it out." It was 1-all when Loney hit the first pitch of the sixth from Hiroki Kuroda (5-6) into the Yankees bullpen in right-centre field. His fifth home run of the season gave him 11 RBIs in 14 games. The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Matt Joyce and Evan Longoria opened with singles and, after Loney struck out, Logan Forsythe hit an RBI single. A wild throw on a rundown gave the Yankees a run in the bottom half. Jeter led off with his 534th career double and went to third on Jacoby Ellsburys single. Price trapped Ellsbury with a pickoff throw, but he was hit in the back by shortstop Ben Zobrists throw and Jeter scored. Zobrist is playing shortstop in place of regular starter Yunel Escobar, put on the disabled list before the game because of a sore right shoulder. NOTES: Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long was ejected in the sixth for arguing balls and strikes from the bench. ... Cervelli nearly tumbled over the dugout railing while catching Zobrists foul pop in the first. Maddon helped steady the backup catcher, who started in place of Brian McCann. In the ninth, McCann pinch hit and looked at strike three with a runner on first. After hitting just .221 with nine homers and 36 RBIs at the halfway mark, McCann said hes been "horrible" this season. An All-Star with Atlanta, he signed an $85 million, five-year deal with the Yankees. Girardi said it was just a regular day off for rest. "I believe hes going to hit," Girardi said. "At times, I think hes been a little anxious." ... Tampa Bay RF Kevin Kiermaier and a couple of Rays got into the World Cup spirit, dying their hair red, white and blue to support the U.S. soccer team. ... Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-7, 4.14 ERA) starts against LHP Vidal Nuno (2-4, 5.42) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon. ... Johnson remains the last pitcher to strike out at least 10 in six consecutive starts. He did it in 2002 with Arizona. The record is eight in a row by Martinez in 1999 with Boston. ' ' '