tting ready to go." Clarkson earned an automatic ban fro

David Clarkson took it on faith that the Maple Leafs could win without him. Still, the waiting was the hardest part. That wait is almost over as Clarkson has served his 10-game suspension and will make his debut tonight at the Columbus Blue Jackets. Its fair to say he has been looking forward to this day for a long time. "Its like Christmas: You used to open up the box thered be a chocolate and then another chocolate," Clarkson said jokingly. "I got a box at home, I get my daughter to open it. No, but Ive been definitely checking off the dates and getting ready to go." Clarkson earned an automatic ban from the NHL for leaving the bench to enter an altercation in the pre-season when Toronto played the Buffalo Sabres. The veteran right-winger didnt express much in the way of remorse for coming to the aid of Phil Kessel when he was matched up against tough guy John Scott, but regretted how the punishment affected the team. "I think you try to take something from it," he said. "No ones perfect and when you do things or things happen bad, you try and make a positive from it." The biggest positive is the Leafs 7-3-0 record without Clarkson, who acknowledged getting a different perspective on games from sitting up in the press box. "The boys have been winning, which makes it easier," he told reporters this week. "I got to watch a bit of hockey. But Ive watched enough, and Im ready to get back at it." While the Leafs are unsure if winger Joffrey Lupul or call-up Josh Leivo will be in the lineup at Columbus. Lupul is questionable for the game with a bone bruise and did not skate at morning practice. Leivo skated on the third line with Jay McClement and Nazem Kadri. Clarkson has been slotted on the second line with Mason Raymond and Dave Bolland. Clarkson recalled a suspension from his junior hockey days as prior experience but called this time sitting out the toughest thing he has had to endure in his career. Teammates made it easier with text messages and phone calls of support, but that was little consolation for missing the Leafs first game at the Montreal Canadiens and the home opener against the Ottawa Senators. All Clarkson could do was serve as a measure of moral support and a practice player. As the Leafs lost Nikolai Kulemin and James van Riemsdyk to injuries, they cycled through minor-league call-ups and Clarkson — who forfeited US $269,230.80 during the suspension — became the fill-in for line rushes. Not anymore. "Obviously its been a while that we have been waiting for him," coach Randy Carlyle said. "We see him every day, and were just looking at him to come in and add a piece to our puzzle." Clarkson expected a lot of himself after signing a $36.75-million, seven-year contract with the team he grew up rooting for. He conceded hell be "fired up" to play his first meaningful game in a Leafs uniform, but the 29-year-old knows he wont be able to do everything the first time he steps on the ice. "We think that he can make a contribution, but we dont want to put too much pressure on him," Carlyle said. "He hasnt played in a while. We just want him to do the simple things, be David Clarkson and make the simple, strong play." Clarkson figures being himself means going to the front of the net, scoring and bringing a physical presence — no different from his time with the New Jersey Devils. He learned a lot from deep playoff runs with the Devils, like how teams can win without playing pretty. That has been the Leafs so far. But Clarkson has felt great camaraderie within the team since training camp. "Its a great locker-room. Theres no cliques, everyones on the same page," he said. "Weve got something special here." Finally, Clarkson gets to be a part of it. Custom Panthers Jerseys . Mars announced Saturday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will join him as part of his halftime show. Super Bowl halftime performers often have collaborators. Ian Thomas Jersey . With a win tonight, Buehrle will match Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka for the most wins in the majors with 11. Buehrle is 10-4 with a 2.32 earned run average, but has lost his last three starts, including a 7-3 setback at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday. http://www.footballpanthersstore.us/Blac...-Searcy-Jersey/. Meeks has agreed to a $19.5 million, three-year deal with Detroit, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday night. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free agents cant sign contracts until the leagues moratorium ends July 10, also said Cartier Martin had agreed to a one-year contract with the rebuilding franchise. Jarius Wright Jersey . -- Max Domi scored twice and set up two more as the London Knights toppled the visiting Kingston Frontenacs 6-4 on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League action. Dontari Poe Jersey . Never caused problems. Never raised a ruckus. Never got sick or hurt while frolicking in the fields of Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky.San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - T.J. Oshie recorded his second career hat trick and the St. Louis Blues scored a season-high seven goals in a 7-2 rout of the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Oshie added an assist in the onslaught, and Alexander Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk posted their own four-point performances with a goal and three assists apiece. Its nice to get them, its even better just to get the two points, said Oshie. Brian Elliott, making his second start since returning from a knee injury, made 18 saves for St. Louis, which had dropped five straight on the road coming in. Antti Niemi followed up his shutout of the Ducks on Wednesday by surrendering six goals on 27 shots before being lifted in the third period. Oshies first goal came off a bouncing puck at the 11:49 mark, and the Sharks answered with two goals in a 40-second span later in the opening period. Melker Karlsson scored a similar goal to Oshies, and Joe Pavelski wristed one into the right corner from a sharp angle with 1:38 remaining. Effort just wasnt there, said Pavelski. Its disappointing, thats the biggest thing. St.dddddddddddd Louis countered definitively with six unanswered goals. Steen matched Pavelskis sharp-angle tally on a blistering slap shot with 43.1 seconds left before the first intermission. Oshie stickhandled through the entire defense and beat Niemi with a wrister at the 5:32 mark of the second, and another goal in the final minute of the period gave the Blues a 4-2 cushion. Jaden Schwartzs stellar no-look pass from behind the net found the stick of Shattenkirk for a tap-in with 8.6 seconds on the clock. Schwartz scored during a power-play 1:17 into the third period, and Dmitrij Jaskins spinning goal less than four minutes later ended Niemis night. Oshie capped his hat trick by banking one in off backup goaltender Alex Stalocks stick and a Sharks defender with 10:44 remaining during a power play. Game Notes Oshies previous hat trick came against the Wild on Mar. 27, 2014 ... Sharks center Joe Thornton sat out with an upper-body injury, ending his consecutive games played streak at 319 games ... San Jose had won four straight meetings. 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