TORONTO - John Tortorellas time in Vancouver will be remembered more for trying to get into the Calgary Flames locker-room than what he got out of Canucks players. Kelly Olynyk Heat Jersey . Mike Santorelli is the exception.While the Tortorella experiment lasted just a year and represented a low point for this group of Canucks, Santorelli more than any other player benefited from the fiery coachs trust and made the most of it.He definitely believed in me and gave me that chance, Santorelli said of Tortorella. For me, it worked out real well. I think our styles kind of match. It was a good fit for myself. I definitely owe him a lot.Santorelli owes Tortorella at least partial credit for revitalizing his career. A part-time NHL player with the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets out of the lockout, the 28-year-old jump-started his game under Tortorella.On a US$550,000, one-year contract, Santorelli was not expected to do too much for the Canucks. The Burnaby, B.C., native just happened to be a Tortorella kind of guy.He came into training camp and I think he was at the top of all the fitness testing, said David Booth, a teammate of Santorellis with the Canucks who also signed with the Leafs. I think that started Mike off on the right foot. And the way he works in practice is everything John looked at and likes.Santorelli wasnt just the sandpaper Tortorella wanted. He also brought an offensive spark, especially early with four goals, including two in overtime, in his first seven games.While making a big impact, Santorelli earned a bigger role.Hes a guy that came in and I didnt know a lot about and right off the bat impressed me, Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa said. He worked his way up from I dont even think making our team before training camp to being our second-line centre and making guys around him better.Tortorella and the Canucks seemed to be like oil and water. But things didnt fall apart until Santorelli was injured.Through the first 49 games, Santorelli was fourth on the Canucks in scoring with 28 points on 10 goals and 18 assists, trailing only Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler. His right shoulder injury, a torn labrum that required surgery and ended his season, coincided with Vancouvers descent down the standings.Vancouvers first game without Santorelli was the night an enraged Tortorella tried to get to Flames coach Bob Hartley in the other locker-room, the incident that led to a 15-day suspension. Along with general manager Mike Gillis, Tortorella was fired at the completion of the Canucks first season out of the playoffs since 2008.Guys have different viewpoints on him, Booth said of Tortorella. He was hard. He thought I was weird and I thought he was weird.But Tortorella liked Santorelli, and the feeling was mutual.For me I thought he was fair, Santorelli said. When you made a mistake, he gave you the opportunity to explain why you did it, and he just corrected you.Booth referred to Santorelli as a coachs favourite wherever he goes. Torontos Randy Carlyle appreciates what Santorelli brings, but that took time and an adjustment.Carlyle said after reviewing training camp that Santorelli didnt look like he was going to be all that dynamic of a player. Then the coaching staff moved him from centre to wing and watched as he put up 18 points in the seasons first 25 games.Hes much more comfortable and his work ethic is very noticeable on the wing, Carlyle said. I think that has been enlightening to everybody that hes a much more dynamic player when he plays the wing vs. centre.On a $1.5-million, one-year deal, Santorelli came into camp with slightly higher expectations than he did in 2013 with the Canucks but was still among a host of forwards battling for bottom-six spots. He proved his value as an interchangeable part and has been in the lineup for every game so far.Canucks captain Henrik Sedin praised Santorelli for his work ethic, especially in the summer.He puts a lot of hours in and he wants to prepare, and that pays off, Sedin said. Hes so strong on the puck — he makes something out of nothing. You think the play is over, but he seems to find guys and hold onto the puck that extra second, which opens up a lot of things.Santorelli isnt at the forefront of the Leafs success through more than a quarter of the season, but he has been a nice role player in it.Bieksa is hardly surprised by the continued improvement of the even-keeled Santorelli.Hes one of those guys you dont really appreciate unless youre with him day-in and day-out, Bieksa said. Hes one of the most underrated players in the league.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Goran Dragic Heat Jersey . Halak did not get the start in the Washington Capitals Tuesday night game against the St. Kelly Olynyk Jersey .ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen, NFL Editor Ben Fisher, and Isaac Owusu discuss three hot fantasy football topics. https://www.heatlockerroom.com/Tim-Hardaway-City-Edition-Jersey/ . McCutchen hit his first home run in over a month, doubled twice and scored two runs to help the Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Sunday and take three of four from the defending NL West champions.PHOENIX -- With all the big bats in Colorados lineup, it was Drew Stubbs who provided the biggest swing in the Rockies latest victory. Stubbs hit his first home run of the season, off closer Addison Reed in the ninth inning, to lift Colorado over the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Tuesday night. Troy Tulowitzki had his second big game in a row in Arizona, hitting a two-run homer to put the Rockies up 4-3 in the sixth. A.J. Pollock tied it with a two-out home run in the eighth. Stubbs, who entered in a double switch in the eighth, hit a 2-2 pitch from Reed (0-2) into the right field seats, his first homer in 43 at-bats this year. He also chased down Eric Chavezs drive in deep centre to end the game. "Coming in and facing their closer, one of their best guys in the back end of the bullpen, you just hope he makes a mistake and you get a good pitch to hit," Stubbs said. "That last one was a slider out over the plate and I was able to put a good swing on it." Reed got ahead 0-2 on Stubbs. "I was feeling good, but once again a terrible slider in the zone," Reed said. "It was supposed to be down and away. I left it over the middle of the plate. He made me pay for it." Boone Logan (1-0) gave up Pollocks homer but got the victory. LaTroy Hawkins allowed two hits in a scoreless ninth for his ninth save. Colorado won its fourth series in a row. "I think right now you see signs of a group that comes together and understands how important it is to win," Tulowitzki said. "I think you see young guys buying in to doing things right to win the game. Thats what weve been trying to accomplish here the last few years, but I think this group has a firm grip on that." The Diamondbacks dropped their fourth straight, all at home, to fall to 2-13 at Chase Field this season. Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood left in the sixth with tightness in his right elbow. Tulowitzki also had a single and scored twice. In the first two games of the series, he is 5 for 6 with five RBIs and two home runs. Hes also walked three times, meaning hes reached base in eight of his nine plate appearances. "Hes in a good place," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "Hes hitting the ball all over the field and very hard. Hes a great player." Colorados Nolan Arenado had an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, longest in the majjors this season. Chris Silva Jersey. . Justin Morneaus RBI triple extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Trailing 3-2, Colorado took the lead with two runs in the sixth. Carlos Gonzalez led off with a double to right, then Tulowitzki hit Mike Bolsingers 0-1 pitch into the swimming pool area beyond the right field fence to make it 4-3. Arizona batters had struck out four straight times when, with two outs in the eighth, Pollock hit Logans 0-1 pitch high off the foul pole in left field to tie it at 4. Arizona scored two in the second. Miguel Montero led off with a double, went to third when Chatwood threw wildly on a pickoff attempt and scored on Aaron Hills sacrifice fly. Chavez walked, then scored from first on Chris Owings two-out double down the left field line. The Rockies tied it with two in the fourth. With two outs, Tulowitzki singled and scored on Morneaus triple to right, where the ball bounced away from Gerardo Parra. Arenado singled up the middle to bring Morneau home. The Diamondbacks regained the lead, 3-2, in the third. Hill doubled with one out and scored when Chavez singled. Bolsinger left after giving up four straight hits to start the sixth, including Gonzalezs leadoff double and Tulowitzkis homer. With runners at first and second and no outs, reliever Oliver Perez got Corey Dickerson to pop out, then struck out Jordan Pacheco and Chatwood. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases against Chatwood with no outs in the sixth and got nothing out of it. Hill walked, Chavez singled and Pollock walked. That brought the Rockies trainer to the mound and ended the night for Chatwood. Chris Martin, in his second major league appearance, got Owings to bounce to third for a force at home, then pinch-hitter Roger Kieschnick struck out and Tony Campana bounced out to third. NOTES: Owings made a spectacular diving catch of Pachecos foul pop behind third base to end the Colorado eighth. ... The Diamondbacks said top pitching prospect Archie Bradley will be shut down for two weeks with a strained right elbow, then will begin a throwing program. Bradley was struggling at 1-4 with a 5.18 ERA for Triple-A Reno. ... In the series finale Wednesday night, Colorado sends Jordan Lyles (3-0, 2.93 ERA) to the mound against Arizonas Josh Collmenter (1-2, 3.38). ... The Rockies are 4-1 with one game left on their road trip to Los Angeles and Phoenix. ' ' '