TORONTO -- Toronto FC is making progress on its hunt for a new general manager, according to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke. Colorado Avalanche Shirts . "This wont be a long search. Were already down to two (candidates)," Leiweke told season ticket-holders at the MLS teams annual barbecue Sunday. "Ive been focused on this the last two weeks." The struggling 5-13-10 club fired president and GM Kevin Payne on Thursday, with Leiweke saying the two were not on the same page. Reports have linked Real Salt Lakes Garth Lagerwey to the Toronto job although Real Salt Lake has noted he is under contract to the club through 2014 -- a fact that might not mean a move is out of the question. Leiweke also told his audience at the teams training centre Sunday that the MLSE board had authorized $26 million to spend on two major player acquisitions in the transfer window that just closed. The team was unable to close those deals, a failure that was seemingly part of the reason behind Paynes departure and Leiweke hitching his wagon to rookie manager Ryan Nelsen. "I also believe that the coach and the front office have to have the same view of the kind of DP (designated player) and the position youre trying to fill," Leiweke said. "One thing Nellie (Nelsen) and I agree on is we need strikers. "If you watched the game last night (a 4-0 loss in Portland on Saturday), we need finishers and we need strikers. It is so clear what we need here. Were not chasing defenders or midfielders. If were going to find a midfielder, itll be an attacking midfielder. And we do believe weve got to solve our striker situation once and for all by (spending) significant money." "Moneys not the issue," he added. "We have the money. But we have to find the right players." That means finding a player who wants to be here and wants to make a difference. "It cant just be a payday or a holiday or else thats going to backfire." Leiweke reiterated that the GM search is not about hiring "a dynamo or world-class personality that is a great spinner." "I think the future of this league is about the (salary) cap, about trades, about player evaluation and about development. I think what we need to do is take a page out of the NBAs book and find someone thats analytical, a capologist that understands how to handle our cap and make sure we do not enter into bad deals, that gets along and knows every GM in the league and knows how to make trades." His comments seemed to suggest a growing role for Nelsen in player personnel. Leiweke has pushed back the deadline to renew season tickets to January, telling fans that he will come back to them then. "We dont want you to make that decision now and, by the way, we dont have the right to ask that decision now," he said. "Well be back in January. "We know where were going and were going to get there quickly." Toronto, on its eight manager in seven seasons, has a history of failure on the field that includes never having made the playoffs. Leiweke also pointed to some of the teams past mistakes, said TFC will stop trading away its draft picks. "Those days are over, that I promise." He also said the franchise has also done a poor job of trading within the league. The MLSE boss paid tribute to the fans, saying he was "shocked" by the turnout Sunday and their loyalty in the face of the teams performance. "We dont deserve this," he said. Leiweke promised to talk to the ticket-holders in January "and lets see how weve done." "Between now and then Im tired of the BS and you aint going to get any from me. This is about rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. And thats what were going to do between now and January." Before then, Leiweke said he given his staff specific instructions. "No more promises, no more spin, no more assessment. Im tired of that. That doesnt solve a damn thing. What weve got to do is go work hard. Thats what were going to do." That seemed to be an unspoken reference to Payne, who often talked up the talent on the way. Leiweke also addressed speculation that the CFL Argonauts might join the MLS team at BMO Field, with the stadium being retrofitted to accommodate football. "Nothings going to happen until we have another conversation and you have input, I promise," he said. "This hasnt even been a subject or a discussion with our board. And when youre talking about $60 (million) or a $100 million, believe me the boards not only going to have an involvement, its not going to be a quick decision. "So lets not worry about that yet." Colorado Avalanche Store . Like a magic trick, the puck popped out behind Stalock in the San Jose net. While Sharks coach Todd McLellan decried the legality of the tiebreaking goal, the Los Angeles Kings celebrated their latest, greatest escape yet. Colorado Avalanche Pro Shop . Nat Borchers headed in the sole goal in the 54th minute, getting on the end of a Kyle Beckerman free kick. The defeat cost Sporting top spot in the Eastern Conference. Even a draw would have moved the Kansas City club above Columbus.VANCOUVER - Ryan Miller has been lights out for the Vancouver Canucks most of the season.Tuesday night was one game he would like to forget.The veteran goalie allowed two questionable goals, but his teammates failed to generate any offence at the other end to bail him out in a disappointing 4-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.Miller saw Matt Beleskeys opener go in off his glove in the first period before Kyle Palmieri beat him with another stoppable shot through the five-hole in the second that gave the Ducks a 2-0 lead they would never come close to surrendering.It was a disappointing game. A couple errors on my part or else maybe we get some confidence and they dont get to play the game where they can just kind of sit back at times, said Miller, who finished with 20 saves. They might have to push a little more and that opens things up.Not real happy about that (but) things happen. You move on.Frederik Andersen had to make just 17 stops for the third shutout of his career for Anaheim (32-10-6), while Rickard Rakell, with a goal and an assist, and Patrick Maroon also found the mark for the visitors.The Ducks sit tops in the NHLs overall standings and have won six straight and eight of their last nine.We just want to go with the same pace we have been and keep showing we are among the very best teams in this league, said Andersen. Its the second half now and we just want to continue that on and keep playing the way we have been and keep shutting teams out and keep playing that good defensive game.Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins saw his team fall to 26-17-3 and just 1-1-2 against the Ducks this season.I think we can compete with them. I do. Whenever we play them I honestly feel inside that we can compete and we can play well, and we havent, said Desjardins. Maybe somewhere along the line Ive got to change my mind, but theres stretches there where I believe we can compete and we didnt get it done tonight.Vancouver entered the all-star break on a 3-2-0 run after a tough five-game road trip, but the club is just 11-9-1 at Rogers Arena this season and hasnt scored at home in nearly nine periods.The game is there for us to win, but we give up the first one, said Canucks captain Henrik Sedin. We never seemed to get the Grade-A chances.We werent good enough, thats the bottom line.With his team up 2-0 after 40 minutes, Rakell put things out of reach at 9:20 of the third, firing a shot from just inside the Vancouver blue-line that deflected off the stick of Canucks defenceman Frank Corrado and in off the crossbar for his fourth of the season.Held to just 12 shots through two periods in the first game for both teams after the break, the Canucks didnt muster much more offence in the third on a night wheen Andersens crease was rarely threatened. Avalanche Jerseys 2020. Not good enough. Not good enough at all, said Sedin. If were a team thats going to roll four lines we need everyone to contribute and were not getting that right now.Maroon scored his fifth of the season into an empty net in the final minute for the Ducks.Part of the problem for Vancouver was a disjointed power play that went 0 for 3 and is now an abysmal 2 for 28 over the last nine games.I think were a better team than that, said Desjardins. Weve just got to find ways. I think we can play better than that and we didnt.Anaheim led 1-0 after the first and doubled that lead at 7:19 of the second on a delayed penalty with the Canucks already shorthanded when Palmieri beat Miller for his 10th of the season.Canucks forward Derek Dorsett left the game a few minutes earlier with an upper-body injury after taking a hit from Ryan Kesler and did not return. Replays appeared to show that Kesler, who was dealt from Vancouver to Anaheim in the off-season, made contact with Dorsetts head on the play.I havent seen it yet. All I know is I was going for the puck and I felt him hit, said Kesler. I hope hes all right, its unfortunate, its a fast game out there. I was just going for the puck, trying to make a hockey play.The Canucks played at home for the first time since Jan. 10 and had just two shots in the period, although Nick Bonino rang another puck off the post behind Andersen that stayed out.Vancouvers Zack Kassian, who has just two goals on the season, had an opportunity to get his team closer, only to see a pass in front from the corner hop over his stick in tight.The Ducks — a dominating 9-0-1 over the last 10 against their Pacific Division rivals — opened the scoring at 13:43 of the first period thanks to Beleskeys 18th of the season.Beleskey unloaded a slapshot from the wing off the rush that Miller could only get a piece of with his glove before it fluttered into the top corner.We had to find more, Desjardins said of his teams overall effort. You have to find ways to win these games.Notes: The Canucks havent scored at home since the first period of a 3-1 home loss to the Florida Panthers on Jan. 8. ... All three of Andersens career shutouts have come this season. ... The Canucks were without defenceman Kevin Bieksa, who suffered a broken left hand in the final game before the all-star break. The 33-year-old underwent surgery and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. ... The Canucks and Ducks play the final game of their season series Mar. 9 at Rogers Arena. ... Vancouver continues its six-game homestand Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. ... Anaheim visits the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.___Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter ' ' '