Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey News and Views | Archive

Game Summary: Oct. 31 – Toronto 4 at Montreal 5 (SO)

Leafs scorers:Ponikarovsky 2 (5), Stempniak (4), Kaberle (2)
Canadiens scorers: Metropolit (2), Latendresse (2), Gill (1), Hamrlik (4), shootout winner – Cammalleri
Links: Game Summary | Stats | Discussion boards

Forward lines: Ponikarovsky-Grabovski-Hagman, Tlusty-Stajan-Stempniak, Kulemin-Mitchell-Blake, Primeau-Wallin-Orr
Defence pairings: Kaberle-Komisarek, Beauchemin-Schenn, White-Exelby
Goaltenders: Toskala (Shootout Loss, 64:16 minutes played, 35 saves, 4 GA), Toskala (0:00)

Noteworthy:
-Vesa Toskala started his first game since Oct. 12 against the NR Rangers, the game in which he injured his knee.
-For the second straight game, the Leafs sent the game into overtime by scoring the tying goal late in the third period with their goalie on the bench.
-Mike Komisarek had 20:25 of ice time against his former team with 4 penalty minutes, 6 hits and 8 blocked shots.
-Former Leaf Hal Gill scored his first career Habs goal.

Game Summary: Oct. 30 – Toronto 2 at Buffalo 3 (OT)

Leafs scorers: White (2), Grabovski (3)
Sabres scorers: Stafford (4), Connolly 2 (4)
Links: Game Summary | Stats | Discussion boards

Forward lines: Ponikarovsky-Grabovski-Hagman, Tlusty-Stajan-Stempniak, Kulemin-Mitchell-Blake, Primeau-Wallin-Orr
Defence pairings: Kaberle-Komisarek, Beauchemin-Schenn, White-Exelby
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (OT/Loss, 60:32 minutes played, 25 saves, 3 GA), Toskala (0:00)

Noteworthy:
-The Leafs salvaged a point after Grabovski scored a shorthanded goal with just under 38 seconds left in the third period. With Gustavsson on the bench for an extra attacker, Matt Stajan had been sent off for interference.
-Toronto falls to 0-3 in overtime games this season.

Leafs Game Day News: Road swing continues in Buffalo

The fourth game of the Toronto’s 5-game road trip goes Friday evening at HSBC Arena in Buffalo as the Leafs take on the Sabres (7:30pm ET, SportsNet, AM 640). Jiri Tlusty will replace Viktor Stalberg in the lineup as the two youngsters exchanged roster spots with the Leafs and AHL Marlies yesterday.

Phil Kessel is likely to make his Leafs debut Tuesday against Tampa Bay when the Leafs host the Lightning.

Joe “Night Scrawler” Warmington writes in today’s Toronto Sun about new revitalization plans for Maple Leaf Gardens.

Here are the hockey headlines in the news this morning:

Leafs News

Scrawler: New life for Gardens Toronto Sun
Schenn’s former roomie catches full-time gig with Sabres Toronto Sun
Wilson ponders Kessel’s debut Toronto Sun
Kessel poised to give Leafs offensive boost Toronto Star
Net gains as leaky Leafs plug the gaps Toronto Star
Kessel cleared for contact National Post
How the slash of a skate severed a nose, altered a life Toronto Star
Malkin out 2-3 weeks The Globe And Mail
Leafs Playing It Smartly With Prospects FAN 590
Buffalo Gameday Notebook AM 640

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Leafs recall Tlusty, activate Toskala; MacDonald, Stalberg sent down

The Maple Leafs have recalled Jiri Tlusty from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, the team announced Thursday. Tlusty has ten points in 8 games played with the Marlies this season.

Leafs president and GM Brian Burke also announced that goaltender Joey MacDonald and forward Viktor Stalberg have been assigned to the Marlies.

Goaltender Vesa Toskala was also activated from injured reserve. Toskala suffered a knee injury in a Leafs loss to the New York Rangers on October 12.

Thursday news: Leafs fall in overtime

Despite holding a late third period lead, the Leafs came up short in Wednesday’s game at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, losing 4-3 in overtime. Nikolai Kulemin scored twice while Lee Stempniak also found the net for Toronto.

The recent passing of a Toronto teen from the H1N1 virus has resonated with Leafs forward Jason Blake on a personal level.

The Leafs’ next game is Friday night in Buffalo.

Here are the hockey headlines in the news this morning:

Leafs News

It’s lights out in OT Toronto Sun
Cox: Collapse in OT seals Leafs’ fate Toronto Star
Tlusty ready for next call Toronto Star
Boy’s death hits Leaf hard Toronto Sun
NHL keeps close eye on flu cases Toronto Star
Success fleeting as Leafs lose in OT National Post
Leafs fall in overtime The Globe And Mail
Former Hab Puts It To The Leafs FAN 590
Leafs Showing Life Despite Latest Loss AM 640

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Game Summary: Oct. 28 – Toronto 3 at Dallas 4 (OT)

Leafs scorers: Kulemin 2 (3), Stempniak (3)
Stars scorers: Richards 2 (5), Ribeiro (4), Neal (7)
Links: Game Summary | Stats | Discussion boards

Forward lines: Ponikarovsky-Grabovski-Blake, Stalberg-Stajan-Stempniak, Mitchell-Wallin-Hagman, Primeau-Mayers-Kulemin
Defence pairings: Kaberle-Komisarek, Beauchemin-Schenn, White-Exelby
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (OT/Loss, 62:57 minutes played, 32 saves, 4 GA), MacDonald (0:00)

Noteworthy:
-Lee Stempniak had a goal and now has 5 points in his last two games.
-Jason Blake had three assists.
-Goalie Jonas Gustavsson was called for delay of game in the first period, after playing the puck behind the goal line outside of the ‘trapezoidal’ area implemented in 2005-06.
-Whitby, Ontario native James Neal had the overtime winner for the Stars.