TORONTO -- Showing that life in the NHL isnt always about five-star hotels or designer suits, Leafs coach Randy Carlyle found himself in a Swiss Chalet in Parry Sound, Ont., on Boxing Day. And while his players were with family and friends, likely away from the limelight, Carlyle was hard to miss among those ordering a quarter-chicken dinner. "Some fan walks by and says Hey Carlyle, you better get those Leafs going," Carlyle said Friday with a smile. "Everybody in the Swiss Chalet knew I was there so I guess I didnt get away from it (hockey)." For his players, hockey had been on the backburner, at least for a day or two. "It was nice to have a break, physically and mentally," winger Joffrey Lupul said ahead of Friday nights game against the visiting Buffalo Sabres. "It (December) was a tough month for us, record-wise and just schedule, travel-wise. So hopefully a couple of days rest is what we needed and we are able to put together some wins here." "Christmas break, you kind of recharge and refuel and re-energize and get ready to push through to the finish," said captain Dion Phaneuf. "Everybody came back rested, got to spend some time with their families and friends over the holidays and thats what its about," he added. "Now were back to work tonight and weve got to focus on getting our game back to where we want it to be." The Leafs (18-16-5) are coming off shootout losses to the Rangers and Red Wings. Toronto has just one regulation win in its last 18 outings (5-9-4). The Sabres desperately needed the break. A bout of flu meant interim coach Ted Nolan was able to dress just 16 players Monday against Phoenix. Having their Rochester Americans farm team in Switzerland at the Spengler Cup didnt help matters. "They look a lot better today, so thats good," Nolan said Friday of his Sabres." Centre Cody Hodgson, sidelined after blocking a shot, is still not ready to return, however. The goalie matchup Friday appeared to be Jonathan Bernier for the Leafs against Ryan Miller of the Sabres. Carlyle said the Christmas break seemed to have been worthwhile, pointing to the energy he saw from his team in the morning skate. "We all felt pretty good out there this morning," defenceman Cody Franson concurred. "It was nice to have a couple of days (off)." Still, as Swiss Chalet showed, its hard to hide from hockey. "But you never really truly forget about it because its always in the back of your mind to some degree," Carlyle said. "We just hope we can take some of that energy that we had this morning and transfer it into tonights hockey game. "These games are a different games, Im going to tell you. You never know what youre going to get off of three days (rest) and one morning skate. Im sure all the coaches in the leagues are saying the same thing." At 10-24-3, the Sabres sit at the bottom of the NHL. But they are on a mini-streak, having won three of their last four and have gone 4-4-2 in their last 10 games. Toronto is 3-5-2 over the same period. Luck may also be finally on the Sabres side. Buffalo won last time out via a bizarre overtime goal against Phoenix that saw the puck fly into the air and land in the back of Coyotes goalie Mike Smiths pants. An unknowing Smith slid backwards into the goal, taking the puck with him for a 2-1 Buffalo win Monday. There could be more mayhem in front of goal Friday, with six-foot-eight, 259-pound tough guy John Scott expected to see time on the power play in front of the Toronto net. The big man had 199 career NHL games under his belt going into Friday night. At the other end, the Leafs will likely need a plan of their own against a hot goalie. Miller is 4-1-0 in last five starts, with a 1.56 goals against average and .952 save percentage. He has not allowed a third-period goal during that run. He is also 2-0 against the Leafs this season and 31-15-1 overall against Toronto. Carlyle had not lost his sense of humour over the Christmas break. Did you miss us, was his first question from the media after the morning skate. "No I cant say I missed you," he replied to laughter. "I just didnt think about you." The media were back in their numbers Friday. Leafs TV, the teams house channel, had six people in the arena seats talking on TV during the skate. Jose de Jesus Corona Jersey . - A Tuesday funeral is planned in Toronto for 20-year-old Saginaw Spirit forward Terry Trafford. Hugo Ayala Jersey . Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Buddy Robinson scored 43 seconds apart in the second period to lead the Binghamton Senators to a 4-1 victory over the Bulldogs in American Hockey League action Friday night at the Bell Centre. http://www.mexiconationalshop.us/Hector-Herrera-Mexico-Jersey-Soccer/ . The team reported the signing on its website Thursday, but said Friday the deal was off in "a mutual parting of the ways that had to do with the language of the contract. Raul Jimenez Jersey . Chelsea ripped apart Hull inside 25 minutes at Stamford Bridge, with the early goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard securing a 2-0 victory. While Lampard had earlier missed a penalty, Roberto Soldado had no such trouble from the spot for Tottenham, scoring on his debut to clinch a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace. Marco Fabian Jersey . -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. PHILADELPHIA -- Allen Iverson cupped his hand to his left ear and asked to hear his favourite tune one more time. With that command, 20,000 roaring Philadelphia 76ers fans gave AI the standing ovation he earned by stamping himself as one of the franchises all-time greats. Iverson, emotional as he thanked former teammates and friends, had his No. 3 retired at halftime of Saturdays game against Washington. High above the Wells Fargo Center court, Iversons banner slipped between Maurice Cheeks No. 10 and Charles Barkleys No. 34. "They all wanted me to talk about how much yall loved me," Iverson said, "but trust me, the feeling was mutual." Iverson officially retired in October after last playing in 2010. He won four scoring titles for the Sixers and was the 2001 MVP when he led them to the NBA Finals. He never won a championship, the lone omission in a career that is destined for the Hall of Fame. The Sixers may as well have turned the arena into an AI museum. Four banners greeted fans at the main concourse entrance, and photos of him were plastered all around the arena. The merchandise stands sold Iverson jerseys for $130, and lower level tickets were going for as much for $1,280 on Stubhub about an hour before the 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The fans loved him, and he blew them kisses after the No. 3 was raised to show how much he loved them back. "I am Philly," Iverson said. "Its always going to be that way." Iversons return injected a rare dose of excitement into a franchise playing some of the worst basketball in the league. The Sixers, in full-blown rebuilding mode, had lost 12 straight entering Saturdays game. The losing didnt matter much Saturday, just the memories. The Sixers wore special "Iverson Forever" patches on their jerseys and Iversons 3 on their pregame warmup shirts. "Its a great example of how this city responds to somebody that they clearly think the world of and brought such exciting times to the city of Philadelphia," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. The Sixers retirement gift was a boat named in honour of his nickname, "The Answer." "It feels good," Iverson said after the ceremony, "but some part of my heart hurts because I know its over." Iverson joined Cheeks, Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain and Julius Erving among the eight retired numbers in franchise history. Erving attended the ceremony.dddddddddddd Moses Malone, Dikembe Mutombo, Theo Ratliff, Gary Payton and former team president Pat Croce also were at the celebration. Former coach Larry Brown, who both clashed with and loved Iverson over their tenure, sent a videotaped message. "I just want to tell you, and I say this fondly: God put me there to coach you," Brown said. Iverson said Brown was the player who moulded him into one of the NBAs best. "I always had raw talent," he said. "I needed Larry Brown to polish it up." Iverson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft and spent his first 10 seasons in Philadelphia. He also played for Denver, Detroit, and Memphis before returning to Philadelphia for a 25-game stint in 2009-10. Iverson, who mashed hip-hop culture and hoops like no player before him, was perhaps at his peak in his fifth NBA season. The 165-pound guard averaged 31.1 points, was the MVP of the All-Star game and propped an entire franchise on his 6-foot frame all the way to the finals. Led by Brown, the Sixers needed Game 7 wins in consecutive series for the right to play the Lakers. Shaquille ONeal, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers swept their way through the post-season before Game 1 in Los Angeles. Iverson had 48 points in 52 minutes of an overtime victory. The Sixers didnt have enough to go the distance and the Lakers won the next four games. Hes 21st on the NBAs career scoring list with 24,368 points over 914 career games. Iverson, drafted out of Georgetown, scored 30-plus points 345 times and was an 11-time All-Star. His No. 3 jersey was a bestseller around the globe, the headband wrapped snugly around his cornrows, and the tattoos were as much a part of his image as the way he ricochets around the court. Play every game like it was his last was more than a catchphrase, it was a lifestyle. "Who could not be an Allen Iverson fan?" said Thaddeus Young, the lone current Sixers player who played with Iverson. "It got no bigger than him in Philadelphia." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was at the game for AIs night. "Allen was a special player," Silver said before the game. "The great things he did for the league far outweigh the occasional headache. I always thought even at the time of Allen Iversons prominence in the league, he was representative of his generation." ' ' '