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SOCHI, Russia – Leo Komarovs KHL club had one flight this season of the marathon variety, precisely the kind of tiresome experience that has the former Leaf winger reconsidering his career status. “It took us 12 hours or something,” he said of the near 10,000 kilometre flight from Moscow to Vladivostok, quick to mention the one stop required to refuel along the way. It may not be in Toronto, but Komarov seems to have his sights set on a return to the NHL next season. The 27-year-old had his first (and long-desired) taste of the league in 2013 – calling it “probably the best time of my life” – before returning to Dynamo of the KHL last summer for reasons both financial and otherwise. “I want to get back,” Komarov said of the NHL. “Its a big goal for me for next season. [But] Im going to see how its going to work out. Dynamo is playing pretty good right now so its like everything is good there too, but I really enjoyed it in Toronto. It was really good.” Komarov played in 42 games with the Leafs and was the pesky, agitating force the organization hoped hed become when they drafted him in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. But with the lure of a hefty one-year contract in Moscow and more opportunity ahead of the Olympics this winter, Komarov chose to leave Toronto after just one season. “No hard feelings against Toronto,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. Everything was good, but Dynamo gave me a really good offer.” More money than a cap-strapped Leafs brass was prepared or even able to pay this past summer. But just as important as the dollars gained by returning to Russia was the chance to play big minutes with a powerhouse squad in Dynamo. And with keen hopes of representing Finland for the first time on the Olympic stage here in Sochi, Komarov wanted to ensure his best was on display as often as possible. “I need to play a lot to make this team for Olympics and I knew Im going to get a lot of ice-time in Dynamo,” said Komarov following practice with a trimmed down Finnish Olympic squad, NHL players yet to arrive on this day. “You go in the NHL and play on the fourth line – five, six minutes – its hard. I wanted to make 100 per cent sure that Im going to make the team. “Maybe the contract situation was a little bit [a reason] too. It was a hard decision, like I want to play in NHL, but what happened happened.” Though he is quite at home in the KHL, where hes played for four seasons now, Komarov certainly enjoyed the upgrade in lifestyle associated with the NHL. From the lavish hotels to comfortable charter planes to do-it-all training staffs to visits in New York, Montreal and Boston, the NHL just has more to offer than the league in Russia, up-and-coming as it is. “Its like the best thing that can happen to a hockey player to be there,” said Komarov of playing in the NHL, remaining in touch with current Leafs Phil Kessel, Frazer McLaren, Tyler Bozak and Nikolai Kulemin. “Its so nice.” Toronto was also a more desirable resting place for his Finnish girlfriend. Unlike Komarov, who speaks four languages including Russian, Swedish and Finnish, his better half has nothing to fall back on as far as communication is concerned, this in a place where English is rarely spoken or understood. “She liked Toronto really much, did whatever she wanted by herself there, but in Moscow she always needs me around,” said Komarov, noting the challenge of simply traveling around the city without knowing the Russian language. An unrestricted free agent this summer, Komarov is open to returning to the Leafs and the city of Toronto, but he appears more focused on simply getting back into the NHL however possible. Yet to receive any offers he remains hopeful about his prospects with a fallback plan of good money and opportunity in the KHL. “Theyve got good money in KHL, but its not all about the money either,” he said. “NHL is the best league you can play in.” Dave Parker Jersey . -- Among the 31 players at the Montreal Canadiens rookie camp, none feels closer to cracking the NHL roster than right winger Aaron Palushaj. Jung-ho Kang Pirates Jersey . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/Josh-Bell-pirates-jersey/ . The Calgary skip fell 10-8 to Swedens Oskar Eriksson in semifinal action Saturday and will face Switzerlands Peter de Cruz for the bronze medal (Saturday at 10pm et/7pm pt on TSN2). Colin Moran Pirates Jersey . Obasi chested the ball past one defender, prodded it past another and then rounded the keeper before scoring from a tight angle in the 16th minute. Seconds after the restart, Obasi set up Klaas Jan Huntelaar for the Dutchmans 11th goal from 13 games this season. Jordan Lyles Jersey . Chelsea took until the second half to trouble the leagues bottom team, but Schuerrle then ripped through the defence with ease at Craven Cottage to keep Jose Mourinhos side on track for the title.The final piece of the NHL conference final round will fall into place Friday when the Los Angeles Kings visit the Anaheim Ducks for a decisive Game 7 clash from the Honda Center. You can catch all of the action live NOW on TSN and TSN GO. The Eastern Conference finals are set with Montreal scheduled to host the New York Rangers in Game 1 on Saturday, but the Chicago Blackhawks are still waiting for an opponent in the West. The winner of Fridays game in Anaheim will face the defending Stanley Cup champions in the conference finals, with either the Ducks hosting the Blackhawks in Game 1 on Sunday or Los Angeles visiting Chicago on the same day. The Kings forced tonights Game 7 thanks to a 2-1 home victory on Wednesday. The close decision halted Anaheims three-game winning streak after losing the first two contests of this series on home ice. Anaheim is 2-3 all-time in Game 7s while the Kings are 5-4 in this situation. Despite dropping Games 1 and 2 in Orange County, the top-seeded Ducks are 4-2 as the host in this postseason. L.A. is 4-3 on the road, but had won four straight as the guest before dropping Game 5 in Anaheim by a 4-3 score. In order to get past the Kings, however, Anaheim will have to end Los Angeles string of elimination wins during this postseason. The Kings won four in a row to beat San Jose in the opening round after dropping the first three games of that set, becoming the fourth club in NHL history to win a series after falling behind 3-0. L.A. pushed that streak to five with Wednesdays win at the Staples Center. Jake Muzzin and Trevor Lewis each lit the lamp in Game 6 and Jonathan Quick stopped 21 shots to help the Kings stay alive. L.A., which won its first Stanley Cup title in 2012, is attempting to make it to the conference final stage for a third straight spring. Anze Kopitar posted an assist for the Kings, giving him at least one point in 12 of his teams 13 playoff games.ddddddddddddKopitar is leading the league with 17 points on four goals and 13 assists this postseason. Muzzin opened the scoring with his third of the playoffs 8:16 into the game, while Lewis netted the eventual game-winner with 5:56 left in the second. Kyle Palmieri found the back of the net just 1:38 later to get the Ducks within one, but Quick turned aside all 10 shots he faced in the third to set the stage for this evenings winner-take-all contest. L.A. improved to 6-1 this postseason when scoring first. "Were a good team. Any team thats still playing this time of year has got a good team and knows how to win," Quick said. "Itll be a good game (Game 7) and weve got to get our rest and be ready." Anaheim rookie John Gibson, who had stopped 67-of-70 shots since making his postseason debut between the pipes in Game 4, allowed both goals on 23 shots in the setback. "You want to win it when you can, and we didnt get it done," Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Well get better and well get ready, and well play a hell of a game Friday." The 20-year-old Gibson burst on the scene with a 28-save shutout in Game 4 and stopped 39-of-42 shots in Mondays close victory. It was the first loss at the NHL level for Gibson, who was 3-0 for Anaheim during the regular season in 2013-14 before winning Games 4 and 5 of this series. The Ducks are aiming for their first trip to the conference finals since 2007, when the franchise won its only Stanley Cup title. This series, which has been dubbed the "Freeway Faceoff," is the first playoff matchup between these Southern California rivals. Fridays game could be the last in the standout career of Ducks winger Teemu Selanne, who expects to retire after this season. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer has compiled 684 regular-season goals and 1,457 points in over two decades in the league. ' ' '