had won a season-high four straight games before losing 4-2 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday to open a four-game road trip. Dallas didn’t come out with the pace and determination that was evident during the first three games of the winning streak.“I’m a little concerned right now, just becau

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly didn’t direct a gay slur at referee Brad Meier during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning Womens Zemgus Girgensons Jersey , the NHL said Tuesday after an investigation.Television cameras picked up what sounded like a slur with 1:51 left in the second period when Rielly and Tampa Bay’s Yanni Gourde skated into Toronto’s defensive zone.The NHL launched an investigation shortly after the Lightning’s 6-2 win on Monday night when clips began appearing on social media.“League officials interviewed several of the participants in the game — including Rielly and Meier — and reviewed video of the alleged incident. All of those interviewed adamantly denied that Rielly uttered a slur and the audio supported their statements,” Colin Campbell, the NHL’s executive vice president and director of hockey operations, said in a statement.“The National Hockey League does not tolerate language or gestures that disparage anyone based on their race, creed or sexual orientation and continues to work to ensure that our games are played in a welcoming atmosphere for all of our players, coaches officials and fans.”The league didn’t say if the slur had been used, just that it wasn’t uttered by Rielly. The 25-year-old joined Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas at a press conference Tuesday.“I didn’t hear it,” Rielly said of the slur. “I know I didn’t use that word and I didn’t hear it during play. I did listen to the video.“I’m not sure if it came from the ice or not. Either way, that word has no place in this building. This is a team that wants to be involved in the community and with the movement.”Dubas said he was about to leave the rink Monday night when notified of the alleged comments.“When it came out that it was Morgan who was alleged to have used a homophobic slur, it was surprising to me http://www.officialflames.com/authentic-adidas-jaromir-jagr-jersey , to say the least,” Dubas said. “I’ve known Morgan now for five years and this is a cause that he’s supported socially throughout his time here.”A few weeks ago, Rielly asked to be formally involved in the gay pride parade in Toronto this June, Dubas said.A Vancouver native, Rielly was Toronto’s first-round pick in the 2012 draft. He’s second among NHL defensemen in scoring this season, with 18 goals and 47 assists in 69 games.The NHL has issued fines and suspensions in the past for players using slurs.Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf was fined $10,000, the maximum under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement, when TV cameras recorded him appearing to shout a gay slur toward an official during the 2017 playoffs.Chicago forward Andrew Shaw, now with Montreal Johnny Gaudreau Jersey Kids , was suspended one game and fined $5,000 for directing a gay slur toward an official during the 2016 playoffs.Last month, the NHL celebrated Hockey is For Everyone. The Leafs hosted 30 players from the Toronto Gay Hockey Association during a You Can Play awareness night on Feb. 24. The group works for inclusion in sports, including LGBTQ athletes, coaches and fans. The Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars carried their longest winning streaks of the season into December, but each delivered unforeseen duds last weekend, leaving their coaches careful not to grow too optimistic heading into their third matchup of the season Wednesday at Honda Center in Anaheim.The Ducks (16-11-5) had won six of seven games to move into the top three in the Pacific Division, but played uninspired in a 4-1 loss to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. Anaheim then took on the New Jersey Devils, the last place team in the Eastern Conference, and needed to rally from three deficits before winning 6-5 in a shootout Sunday.“It takes 60 minutes Mark Giordano Jersey , and sometimes 65-plus, to win a hockey game and get two points,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle told the Orange County Register after practice Monday. “That’s really the way we try to approach it, because you’re not going to be perfect every night. You’re going to have your peaks and valleys. You’re going to have some good games, where you think things are going well, and the next game can really be a nightmare.”Article continues below ...The Stars (16-11-3) had won a season-high four straight games before losing 4-2 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday to open a four-game road trip. Dallas didn’t come out with the pace and determination that was evident during the first three games of the winning streak.“I’m a little concerned right now, just because our energy and our emotion the last two games hasn’t been what it was there,” Dallas coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after the loss to Vegas. “We were consistently playing with energy, emotion, and a lot of competitiveness Youth Matthew Tkachuk Jersey , which comes with those two qualities, and the last two games we haven’t had it.”The Stars have already defeated the Ducks twice this season in Dallas 12 days apart in October.The Stars erased a 3-0 deficit in a 5-3 victory Oct. 13, the only regulation loss through the first seven games of the season for the Ducks.Dallas scored four second-period goals in the first win against Anaheim, and the Stars came back with three in the middle period in the second meeting with Anaheim — a 5-2 win.Anaheim goaltender John Gibson started both games against Dallas and will likely be the starter against Wednesday after coming on in relief against the Devils after Ryan Miller sustained a knee injury at 7:13 of the third period.Miller, who was trying for his 375th NHL win, which would have moved him past John Vanbiesbrouck as the winningest U.S.-born goalie in NHL history, is expected to be sidelined for about six weeks. The Ducks claimed Chad Johnson off waivers Tuesday and he’ll likely be Gibson’s backup.Ben Bishop is expected to make his second start in goal against the Ducks this season.Anaheim forward Ryan Getzlaf needs one point to become the second player for Anaheim to record 900 career points — all with the Ducks.Jakob Silfverberg will try to set a career high by scoring a goal in four straight games.