Gameday #44: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Carolina Hurricanes

1464 Views 47 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Sabres Fan, Jan 10, 2007

BE-LEAF-ABLE

Discussion Starter · Jan 9, 2007

Now 0-4 in games after out-scoring the opposition by 4 or more goals (following a 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night), the Maple Leafs host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in a game that could prove pivotal to the Eastern Conference playoff picture.(7:30PM ET)

Related Topic: http://www.hockeyforum.com/toronto-maple-leafs/6504-gameday-43-toronto-maple-leafs-vs.html

Alexander Steen, the Leaf with the hottest hand at the time, added in another goal to his toal in the loss, along with defencemen Carlo Colaiacovo and Pavel Kubina. Kubina's was his first as a Leaf.

Unfortunately for Toronto, a late 3rd period goal scored by the Sabres in the 3rd left the Leafs trying to climb back once more, and almost doing so until John Pohl missed the net with half a minute to go.

Goaltender Andrew Raycroft drew the ire of Leaf fans at the ACC after Kotalik's game-winner passed him by and into the net. However, head Coach Paul Maurice threw support behind the netminder who he thinks has done well so far into the season.

Paul Maurice said:
''The games that we've won, he's been a big part of it. We will put pressure on our goaltender more right now to be good.

''I really think in the last two weeks he has been very good.''

Related Topic: http://www.hockeyforum.com/toronto-maple-leafs/6571-leaf-fans-not-showing-raycroft-much.html

The Leafs now sit just 1 Point ahead of the Boston Bruins (who they beat in back-to-back games before the loss) for the last playoff spot in the East, and are 4 points behind the Hurricanes with 44 Points after 43 games. (19-18-5)

The Maple Leafs will also still be without the players they had missing from the last week with, Darcy Tucker, Kyle Wellwood, Alexei Ponikarovsky, and Michael Peca all still continuing to recover from their injuries.

Related Topic: http://www.hockeyforum.com/toronto-maple-leafs/6634-none-injured-leafs-will-return-tuesday.html

Tucker's 19 goals continue to lead the team, while Mats Sundin has 39 Points in 36 games (18G, 21A), again leading the team in Points for another season.

Andrew Raycroft is 17-13-4 after 34 games played, with a criticised 3.02 Goals Against Average and an .896 Save Percentage.

The Leafs are 4th in the Northwest Division.

Carolina is coming off a 6-1 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday night, and are currently trailing the Atlanta Thrashers by 8 Points for the Southeast Division lead. The Canes have a 22-18-4 record for 48 Points after 44 games played.

The Hurricanes could possibly have defenceman Dennis Seidenberg in the line-up for Tuesday's game after acquiring him in a trade for forward Kevyn Adams last night. The move made due to an injury to defenceman Bret Hedican, and the team also still being without defencemen Frantisek Kaberle and Tim Gleason.

Related Topic: http://www.hockeyforum.com/carolina-hurricanes/6606-hurricanes-deal-adams-seidenberg.html

Justin Williams leads the Canes' in goals with 20 in 44 games, and Ray Whitney and Captain Rod Brind'Amour lead the team in points with 46. (Brind'Amour - 40GP, 13G, 33A. Whitney - 44GP, 16G, 30A)

Reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Cam Ward, has a 19-12-3 record after 34 games this season, and 2.78 Goals against average and .901 Save Percentage for the Hurricanes who are 1-2 to start off 2007.

The Leafs won the only game played between the two clubs earlier in the year by a score of 4-3.

See less See more

Save

1 - 3 of 48 Posts

panoo

· #3 · Jan 9, 2007

Leafs look to bounce back against Canes

The Sports Network
1/9/2007 12:57:00 PM

(Sports Network) - The Carolina Hurricanes aim for their first winning streak in 2007 as they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at the Air Canada Centre.

The Hurricanes kicked off the new calendar year with consecutive losses, but earned a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Erik Cole scored a pair of second-period goals to redeem himself from an earlier penalty shot miss and lead Carolina to the home victory.

Justin Williams had a goal and an assist while Cory Stillman and Ray Whitney each finished with two helpers for the Hurricanes, who put the breaks on a three-game skid.

Eric Staal broke a nine-game scoring drought with a goal, while Cam Ward made 33 saves for Carolina.

The Hurricanes made a deal Monday to bolster their blueline, as they acquired defenseman Dennis Seidenberg from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for forward Kevyn Adams. The 25-year-old Seidenberg has one goal and one assist in 32 games with the Coyotes this season -- his fourth in the league.

Currently, defenseman Tim Gleason (broken foot) and Frantisek Kaberle (shoulder) are out indefinitely, while Bret Hedican is expected to be out until early February with a torn ligament in his finger. Also, defender Glen Wesley is day-to-day with a lower body injury.

FULL STORY

See less See more

Save

panoo

· #4 · Jan 9, 2007

Toronto Maple Leafs go with same lineup against Carolina Hurricanes

Canadian Press
Jan 9, 2007, 2:37 PM EST

TORONTO (CP) - It's status quo for Paul Maurice and his Toronto Maple Leafs.

Two days after a close 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, the head coach will go with the same lineup against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night as the team continues to battle the injury bug.

Andrew Raycroft will be back in net looking to help the Leafs to their third win in four games and Erik Westrum will get his second NHL start with the Maple Leafs since being recalled from the American Hockey League last week.

After the morning skate, Maurice said there hasn't been much progress with any of the team's injured forwards.

Nik Antropov skated Tuesday and is expected to remain out for at least another week nursing his sprained ankle.

Darcy Tucker hasn't been back on the ice since injuring his ankle and will need some time to get back in playing shape once he does.

Alexei Ponikarovsky, who has missed time with a shoulder injury, might be the first to return to the lineup. Maurice said he could be back as soon as Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

FULL STORY

See less See more

Save

panoo

· #5 · Jan 9, 2007

Leafs get no help from sick bay

Canadian Press
1/9/2007 1:47:17 PM

TORONTO (CP) - It's status quo for Paul Maurice and his Toronto Maple Leafs.

Two days after a close 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, the head coach will go with the same lineup against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night as the team continues to battle the injury bug.

Andrew Raycroft will be back in net looking to help the Leafs to their third win in four games and Erik Westrum will get his second NHL start with the Maple Leafs since being recalled from the American Hockey League last week.

After the morning skate, Maurice said there hasn't been much progress with any of the team's injured forwards.

Nik Antropov skated Tuesday and is expected to remain out for at least another week nursing his sprained ankle.

Darcy Tucker hasn't been back on the ice since injuring his ankle and will need some time to get back in playing shape once he does.

Alexei Ponikarovsky, who has missed time with a shoulder injury, might be the first to return to the lineup. Maurice said he could be back as soon as Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

Kyle Wellwood is still bothered by a sore hip . He hasn't been able to receive any treatment for the injury and has been resting for the past week.

FULL STORY

See less See more

Save

1 - 3 of 48 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month