GAME DAY PREVIEWS
Updated: Wednesday March 1, 2000 11:10AM EST
Tuesday February 29, 2000 Toronto at Atlanta 7:30pm
The suddenly-hot Toronto Maple Leafs look to extend their winning streak to four games tonight when they face the expansion Atlanta Thrashers. After going winless in six (0-4-2), the Maple Leafs have reeled off three straight victories, including a 5-2 triumph over Buffalo on Saturday. Mats Sundin and enforcer Tie Domi picked up a goal and an assist apiece.
Toronto remains in first place in the Northeast Division -- six points ahead of the Ottawa Senators -- and is only one behind Florida for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
The Leafs have their first three-game winning streak since January 27-February 1 and are unbeaten in four here. Their 21 wins at the Air Canada Centre this season is tied for third-best home total in the conference.
Darcy Tucker is proving to be a crucial addition to the club after being acquired from Tampa Bay for Mike Johnson earlier this month. He has recorded points in three straight, including a two-goal performance against Phoenix on February 23, and has six points in seven games in a Leafs' uniform.
In the only meeting this season, backup goalie Glenn Healy had to make only 16 saves in a 4-0 blanking of Atlanta here on October 27.
The Thrashers remain the league's worst team with only 34 points and have posted just one win in the last 19 (1-16-2).
Ray Ferraro has been the most consistent Thrasher in recent action with four tallies and six points in his last seven games. Andrew Brunette remains the team leader with 20 goals and 45 points.
Saturday February 26, 2000 Buffalo at Toronto 7pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs shoot for their fourth straight home win over the Buffalo Sabres when they battle tonight for the fourth time this season. Toronto is 2-1 against Buffalo this season with the home team winning each game. Not including last season's Eastern Conference Finals, the Sabres have not defeated the Maple Leafs north of the border since October 31, 1998.
Two days after an 8-1 rout by Boston, Toronto rebounded for a 6-2 triumph over the Sabres on January 3. Igor Korolev and Sergei Berezin scored twice as the Leafs fired 41 shots and converted on 3-of-7 power-play chances.
Toronto won its second straight game Friday with a 3-1 triumph over New Jersey. Korolev and Garry Valk scored 17 seconds apart in the third period and Curtis Joseph made 30 saves for the Maple Leafs, who have not won three straight since January 27-February 1.
Mats Sundin has 26 goals and 55 points for the Leafs, who are five points ahead of Ottawa in the Northeast Division and 10 points behind New Jersey for the best record in the East.
Toronto right wing Steve Thomas will play his 1,000 NHL game tonight.
Buffalo fell to 2-3-2 in its last seven games with Friday's 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers. Michael Peca recorded his first career hat trick as the Sabres wasted a 3-1 lead and fell three points behind New York and Pittsburgh for eighth in the East.
The Sabres begin a five-game road trip tonight and are winless in their last two contests away from home (0-1-1). They are 9-16-4 on the road this season.
Friday February 25, 2000 Toronto at New Jersey 7:30pm
The New Jersey Devils hope to snap a season-high four game winless streak and gain the top spot in the NHL standings tonight as they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.New Jersey is going through its worst funk of the season, dropping three straight games since a disappointing a 5-5 tie against Colorado on February 17 began the winless run.
The Devils, who are tied with St. Louis in the Presidents' Trophy race, have not gone five straight without a win since an 0-4-2 skid from November 16-27, 1995.
New Jersey had a pair of one-goal leads Thursday at Montreal, but lost them both before falling, 3-2, in overtime. Sergei Nemchinov and Petr Sykora scored the Devils' goals.
Martin Brodeur looked strong in making 36 saves Thursday, but lost for only the 12th time in 54 starts this season. He remains nine victories shy of his own team record set last season.
New Jersey is 1-0-1 against Toronto this season, recording a 4-1 road victory after the teams skated to a 3-3 tie at Continental Airlines Arena on November 16.
Toronto has a golden opportunity to gain some ground in the Eastern Conference standings. As the Northeast Division leader, the Maple Leafs hold the third spot with 72 points, but are a distant 12 behind New Jersey.
The Leafs posted their first victory since the All-Star break, a 5-3 decision at home against Phoenix on Tuesday. The win snapped a season-high six-game winless streak and four game winless skid at the Air Canada Centre.
Darcy Tucker scored twice Tuesday and has four points in five games since being acquired from Tampa Bay.
The Maple Leafs are 2-1-3 in their last six trips to New Jersey.
Wednesday February 23, 2000 Phoenix at Toronto 7:30pm
The slumping Toronto Maple Leafs hope to end a six-game winless streak tonight when they host the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Maple Leafs lost for the fifth time in six games with Saturday's tough 2-1 setback at Montreal. Toronto scored first on Steve Thomas' 15th goal, but fell to 15-6 in one-goal decisions.
The season-high winless drought (0-5-1) is the Leafs' longest in the two years under coach Pat Quinn.
With only one win in their last eight contests (1-4-3), the Leafs have seen their lead over the Ottawa Senators in the Northeast Division shrink to just one point. Toronto still is third overall in the East.
The Leafs' power play could partially be blamed for the team's struggles, converting twice in the last 34 chances over the past eight games.
Mats Sundin leads the team with 26 goals and 53 points, but has not appeared on the scoresheet in the last three games.
Phoenix started a four-game Canadian road trip with a 1-0 loss at Montreal on Tuesday. The Coyotes are 3-3-1 against the Northeast Division this season.
Tuesday's defeat left Phoenix two points behind first-place Dallas in the Pacific Division. After tonight, they visit Calgary and Vancouver.
Leading scorer Jeremy Roenick logged 17 shifts totaling 19 minutes, 13 seconds on Tuesday despite a 103-degree temperature while battling the flu.
The teams are meeting for the first time this season. Phoenix has dominated the series over the past three seasons, going 8-3-1 during that span.
Saturday February 19, 2000 Toronto at Montreal 7pm
Two teams headed in opposite directions clash tonight as the Montreal Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a Northeast Division battle. Trying to make a desperate attempt to climb back into the playoff race, the Canadiens blanked the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-0, Thursday to match a season high with their fourth straight victory.
Jose Theodore recorded 26 saves for his fifth shutout of the season, tying Buffalo rookie Martin Biron for the league lead. Despite playing in only 26 games this season, Theodore has more shutouts than New Jersey's Martin Brodeur (three) and Colorado's Patrick Roy (one) combined.
Montreal, which also won four straight from November 20-27, is six points behind the New York Rangers in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Leafs snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-3 tie against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday but saw their winless streak extended to five games, matching a season high. Toronto went 0-3-2 from November 5-13.
With only one win in their last eight contests (1-4-3), the Leafs have seen their lead over the Ottawa Senators in the Northeast Division sliced to just three points. Toronto still is third overall in the East, two points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Toronto has dominated its archrivals this season, winning all three meetings. The Leafs posted a season-opening 4-1 victory in Montreal and followed that with a pair of one-goal victories in Toronto.
Wednesday February 16, 2000 Boston at Toronto 7:30pm
The slumping Toronto Maple Leafs hope to end a four-game losing streak tonight when the host the division rival Boston Bruins. Toronto's 4-2 loss at Boston on February 3 started the skid that has turned into the longest in the two seasons under coach Pat Quinn. The Maple Leafs have been outscored 17-7 during that time and fallen behind 2-0 in 10 of the last 13 games.
Mats Sundin cannot be blamed for the team's stuggles. The All-Star has six goals and 11 assists in the last 11 contests while leading the club with 53 points.
Toronto is two points behind Florida for the second-best record in the East and two ahead of Philadelphia for the third-most points in the conference.
Boston trailed just 2-1 starting the third period, but two goals in 13 seconds sealed its fate in a 5-1 defeat against Florida on Saturday. Shawn Bates had the only Bruins' goal.
Boston's 2-5-1 stretch in its last eight contests has fueled speculation that coach Pat Burns' job is in jeopardy. The Bruins sit 11th in the East with 55 points and if they do not make the playoffs, Burns may end up unemployed.
Goaltender Byron Dafoe, who has started the last 14 games, was pulled in the last game and Burns indicated afterwards that backup Rob Tallas may see more playing time.
The teams have split four games this season, but Toronto won the only meeting north of the border, 4-0, on October 4.
Monday February 14, 2000 Carolina at Toronto 7:30pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs, losers of three straight, seek to get back into the win column tonight when they host the Carolina Hurricanes. Toronto lost its third consecutive contest after winning three in a row in a disappointing 4-1 defeat at home against Vancouver on Saturday. Glen Healy made a rare start, stopped 25 shots, but fell to 5-7-0 on the campaign.
Mats Sundin extended his points-streak to 10 games with an assist in Saturday's contest. He has six goals and 11 assists during the burst.
The Maple Leafs have fallen to third in the Eastern Conference with 69 points, trailing Florida by two. Toronto leads the Northeast Division by six points over Ottawa.
Carolina suffered its worst loss of the season when it was shutout by Toronto, 6-0, on November 3.
The Hurricanes are trying to get back into the playoff hunt. With 54 points, Carolina trails Pittsburgh by four in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
After not allowing a power-play goal in 12 chances, the Hurricanes have allowed three in their last four shorthanded situations.
Saturday February 12, 2000 Vancouver at Toronto 7pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs aim to stop a two-game losing streak tonight when they host the Vancouver Canucks. The Leafs have suffered back-to-back 4-2 losses to the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers to drop into a tie with the Florida Panthers for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto still has a comfortable six-point lead over the Ottawa Senators in the Northeast Division, but is just 3-3-1 in its last seven contests.
The Leafs posted a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory in Vancouver on January 17 as Steve Thomas broke through four defenders and scored with five seconds remaining in the extra session.
Mats Sundin had a power-play goal and three assists in the contest for Toronto.
Scrappy center Darcy Tucker, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, is expected to make his Maple Leafs debut tonight.
Mark Messier, the subject of trade rumors, scored twice before setting up Mattias Ohlund's power-play goal 82 seconds into overtime as the Canucks snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
The three-point effort tied a season high for Messier, who has four goals and four assists in his last six games. On Thursday, he met with general manager Brian Burke amid reports the Canucks want to deal their 39-year-old captain.
Wednesday February 9, 2000 Philadelphia at Toronto 7pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs, trying to stay close to the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference, open a four-game homestand Wednesday night (7 ET, ESPN2) against the Philadelphia Flyers. Toronto suffered a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins prior to the All-Star break and is seven points behind the Devils in the race for the top seed in the East. The Maple Leafs have a comfortable eight-point lead over Ottawa in the Northeast Division.
Toronto also faces Vancouver, Carolina and Boston during the homestand. The Maple Leafs are 1-0-2 in their last three games at the Air Canada Centre and own a 19-5-4 home mark this season.
Mats Sundin, who was shut out in Sunday's All-Star game, is riding an eight-game points streak in which he has recorded five goals and 10 assists. He leads the club with 25 tallies and 51 points.
Goaltender Curtis Joseph, another All-Star, struggled heading into the break, posting a 2-2-2 mark in six decisions. Joseph, who has started seven of the last eight games, is still an impressive 25-12-6 with a 2.40 goals-against average on the season.
Philadelphia is winless in its last three games (0-1-2) and has won just once in its last nine (1-4-4). It holds the fourth spot in the East, four points behind second-place Florida and two ahead of fifth-place Ottawa.
The Flyers' usually high-octane offense sputtered prior to the All-Star break, producing only five goals in three games and 17 in the last nine.
Eric Lindros has produced three goals and five points in four games since returning from a concussion.
Keith Primeau has only one point in four games since being acquired from Carolina on January 23 -- a goal in a 2-2 tie at Montreal on January 29.
Philadelphia is 2-1 against Toronto this season, but lost its only here game, 6-4 on December 11. The Flyers have won six of their last eight meetings with the Leafs.
Thursday February 3, 2000 Toronto at Boston 7pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs take perhaps the hottest line in the NHL into tonight's Northeast Division battle with the Boston Bruins.
Toronto has gone 3-1-2 in its last six contests, scoring 27 goals over that span, thanks in large part to the trio of Mats Sundin, Steve Thomas and Jonas Hoglund. The unit has nine goals and 16 assists in the last five games of the run.
Sundin, who is heading home after tonight for the All-Star Game on Sunday, is the team leader with 24 goals and 50 points. He had a goal and two assists Tuesday in a 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay.
Thomas has six goals in the span while Hoglund has eight assists.
Toronto remains atop the division with 69 points and trails the New Jersey Devils by four points for the best mark in the Eastern Conference.
Home has not been kind to the Bruins this season. They are 8-11-8 at the FleetCenter and have just two wins here since Thanksgiving. Boston is one point out the final playoff spot in the East.
Ray Bourque snapped a nine-game pointless streak on Monday when he posted a goal and an assist in Boston's 4-4 tie with Ottawa. Bourque, however, took a slashing minor late in regulation and the Senators tied it with 33 seconds remaining.
The Maple Leafs have taken two of three from the Bruins this campaign after winning once in five tries last season.
Tuesday February 1, 2000 Toronto at Tampa 7:30pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs try to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning for a ninth straight time when the teams collide tonight. Since Tampa Bay defeated Toronto, 7-4, on October 12, 1996, the Leafs have dominated this series and are 17-6 all-time, including a road mark.
Sergei Berezin had a goal and two assists while Mike Johnson, Igor Korolev and Tomas Kaberle added two points apiece in the Leafs' 4-2 triumph over the Lightning on December 21.
Darcy Tucker and Stephane Richer scored for Tampa Bay, which has dropped eight straight home games to Toronto.
Steve Thomas scored twice and Bryan Berard also tallied as the Leafs won their second straight with a 3-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Thomas has five goals and an assist over his last three games.
Mats Sundin has 23 goals and 47 points for Toronto, which trails the New Jersey Devils by four points for the best mark in the Eastern Conference.
Tampa Bay snapped its seven-game skid Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Atlanta. Fredrik Modin scored both goals for Atlanta and Dan Cloutier recorded 26 saves for his first win since January 13.
Vincent Lecavalier has tallied 14 goals and is tied with Chris Gratton for the team lead in points with 36.
The Lightning have split the first two contests of their five-game homestand and are 9-12-3 at the Ice Palace this season.