ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Randy Carlyle acknowledged the standing ovation with a brief wave of his hand, thanking the Anaheim fans in his usual understated manner for their appreciation of his tenure behind the Ducks bench. Carlyle was even more grateful to leave Honda Center with yet another win for his surging Toronto Maple Leafs. Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak each had a goal and two assists, and the Maple Leafs celebrated Carlyles return with a 3-1 victory over the Ducks on Monday night. "Its always satisfaction when you beat your former hockey club," Carlyle said. "Im not going to hide that fact. I feel good about it." Paul Ranger scored and Jonathan Bernier made 43 saves as Toronto opened a five-game trip with its third consecutive victory, leapfrogging Montreal into second place in the Atlantic Division. Carlyle was back in Anaheim for the first time since the Ducks fired the only coach to lead the franchise to a Stanley Cup title. He was greeted warmly in the first period during a video tribute on the scoreboard. "It was kind of touching," Carlyle said. "I didnt really know what to expect. Im very appreciative and thankful for the people that supported me in my time here, and my family. Its a very special place, and as Ive said, were moving back into the area at some point in our life." His Leafs then forced the Ducks to play almost as poorly as they were playing when he got fired. Bernier didnt have to make many tough saves despite his gaudy stats for the Leafs, who are ramping up for their second trip to the post-season under Carlyle, earning points in 10 of their past 12 games. "I think he was pretty excited," Bozak said of his coach. "He might have been a little more nervous for this one, but were glad we could get it for him." Carlyle won a club-record 273 games and made the playoffs five times in his six full seasons with the Ducks, but was fired in November 2011 with Anaheim off to a miserable start. The Ducks have done exceptionally well since the change to Bruce Boudreau, who won 100 games faster than any coach in franchise history and led Anaheim to last seasons Pacific Division title. Corey Perry scored his 35th goal and Frederik Andersen stopped 20 shots in the Ducks third straight loss to playoff-bound Eastern Conference teams. "Were in a funk," Boudreau said. "And weve just got to get out of it before too long, and do what we do. Weve just got to get back on our horse." Before this loss to end a five-game homestand, Anaheim fell one point behind streaking St. Louis in the overall NHL standings with consecutive shootout losses to Montreal and Pittsburgh. The Ducks hadnt lost in regulation since before the Olympic break, but they couldnt generate many serious scoring chances against Bernier and the Leafs shot-blocking defence. "We should have had more guys in front to make screens, tips, and get in the dirty areas," Ducks defenceman Francois Beauchemin said. "Right now were struggling to score goals because were not going to the front of the net and winning those battles and getting those tough goals." Toronto took the lead during 4-on-3 play late in the first period when Bozak redirected a pass from captain Dion Phaneuf. Kessel then roared past two Ducks defencemen and got a fortunate bounce off Andersens stick for his 34th goal. Kessel, the NHLs second-leading scorer after breaking his tie with Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf, also snapped his first three-game goal drought since early January. Early in the second period, an atrocious Ducks breakdown led to Rangers goals. The Ducks broke through at the end of a dominant shift by their top line late in the second, with Perry banging home a puck on the doorstep for his fifth goal in five games since the break. Anaheim went scoreless on four power plays, dropping into an 0-for-19 slump since the break. NOTES: Carlyle isnt the only former Anaheim resident who returned with the Leafs: Joffrey Lupul, Peter Holland and Troy Bodie all played for the Ducks, while defenceman Jake Gardiner was a top Anaheim prospect before the club traded him along with Lupul for Beauchemin in February 2011. ... Anaheim C Mathieu Perreault missed his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury. Boudreau expects him to return Wednesday in Calgary. ... The Ducks are 4-6-2 at home since their 20-0-2 start to the season. Austin Bryant Youth Jersey . That assertion is getting harder and harder to make, especially given the way 23-year-old Danilo Gallinari has been playing this season. Jahlani Tavai Jersey . -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released veteran guard Davin Joseph, a mainstay on their offensive line over the past eight seasons. http://www.shopdetroitlionsnfl.com/lions-t-j-hockenson-black-jersey/ . The win puts Arsenal four points clear of Everton in fourth place with two games to play in the Premier League, a position which would qualify the club for Europes top competition for the 17th straight year. Jarrad Davis Jersey . In this weeks Leaf Report podcast, James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel debate whether Toronto can continue their shootout dominance and discuss what Dave Nonis game plan should be heading into the trade deadline. Jahlani Tavai Youth Jersey .C. - Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says Danny Granger, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem are still not ready to play and will miss Wednesday nights game against the Charlotte Hornets.DENVER - The Denver Nuggets traded backup point guard Nate Robinson to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday for guard Jameer Nelson.Robinson was a member of the Celtics for parts of 2009-10 and 10-11. He averaged 5.8 points for Denver this season a year after tearing his ACL.It will be Nelsons third team this season. He signed with Dallas before the season and then wound up in Boston as ppart of the trade that sent Rajon Rondo to the Mavericks.ddddddddddddNelson was the 20th overall pick by Denver in 2004, only to have his rights traded to the Orlando Magic in a draft-night deal. Hes averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 assists with Orlando, Dallas and Boston.Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly said Nelsons veteran leadership will be of value to our team. ' ' '