GAME DAY PREVIEWS
Updated: Saturday November 28, 1998 10:39AM EST
Saturday November 28, 1998 Ottawa at Toronto 7pm
Winners of four straight games and unbeaten in five in a row, the Ottawa Senators can establish a pair of franchise records tonight when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have won five in a row at home. Ottawa has never won five straight games in the franchise's six-year history, capturing four in a row four times. The Senators' five-game unbeaten (4-0-1) streak also tied a franchise record.
Damian Rhodes came within 6:09 of a shutout and the Senators tied a franchise record with their fourth straight victory, 4-1, over the New York Islanders on Thursday.
During the five-game streak, Ottawa has outscored the opposition, 18-8, with Rhodes going 3-0-1 in that span and allowing just five goals.
Alexei Yashin has four goals and four assists in the last five games, while Shawn McEachern has two goals and five assists during a four-game points streak.
The Maple Leafs had a three-game winning streak snapped with Friday's 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Toronto has allowed just seven goals during its five-game home winning streak and is 7-3-2 overall at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Toronto needs to find a way to get right wing Steve Thomas involved in the offense as much as possible. The Leafs are 10-0-1 when he records at least one point.
Toronto edged Ottawa, 2-1, at home on November 14th, but is 1-4-1 in its last six meetings with the Senators.
Friday November 27, 1998 Toronto at Philadelphia 1pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs look for their season-high fourth straight victory when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers, who had a four-game winning streak snapped in their last outing. Steve Thomas scored a power-play goal to snap a second-period tie and Curtis Joseph stopped 33 shots as Toronto defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 5-1, Wednesday. The Maple Leafs are 10-0-1 this season when Thomas scores at least one point.
The win gave the first-place Maple Leafs their third three-game winning streak of the season and moved them three points ahead of Boston in the Northeast Division.
Toronto opened the year with three straight wins and also ran off three in a row from November 11th-14th. The Leafs have won six of their last eight overall following a 1-5-1 stretch and have split 10 road contests this season.
Philadelphia completed a four-game road trip Wednesday with a 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders, despite a 46-14 edge in shots. John Vanbiesbrouck made only 11 saves for the Flyers, who outscored their opponents, 15-4, during their winning streak.
Left wing John LeClair scored his team-leading 13th goal and is second on the team with 22 points, four behind center Eric Lindros and one better than left wing Rod Brind'Amour.
Even with their recent run of success, the Flyers have gone just 5-7-3 in their last 15 contests after opening 4-0-1. Philadelphia recorded its most impressive performance of the season in its last home contest, routing the New Jersey Devils, 6-1, on November 14th.
Philadelphia is 7-3 in its last 10 contests against the Leafs. The teams split two games last season.
Wednesday November 25, 1998 Vancouver at Toronto 7:30pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs looks to run their home winning streak to five games tonight when they host the Vancouver Canucks, who continue a five-game road trip. Sylvain Cote's goal snapped a tie at 7:15 of the third period and the league's worst power play converted twice as the Maple Leafs posted a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Monday.
The Leafs have won four of their last six games overall and four straight at home, where they are 6-3-2 this season. Toronto is a much improved team over last season. The Leafs were 7-11-3 after 21 games last year.
Toronto moved to the Eastern Conference this season but is enjoying success against the Western Conference with an 8-1-1 record.
Veteran right wing Steve Thomas is enjoying a rebirth in his second stint with the Leafs. He is tied for the team lead with eight goals and is second on the club with 16 points. Toronto is 9-0-1 this season when Thomas records a point.
The Canucks kicked off their road trip with a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday. After this game, Vancouver visits Detroit, Philadelphia and Boston before returning home against Dallas on December 4th.
Mike Keenan's team has lost four of its last five games to fall below .500 for the first time this season. Already without star right wing Pavel Bure and the emerging Todd Bertuzzi, Vancouver will be without left wing Alexander Mogilny for an undetermined time due to a knee injury.
Center Dave Scatchard has three goals and three assists during a career-high six-game points streak.
Vancouver posted a 4-1 victory over Toronto at home on October 17th.
Monday November 23, 1998 Calgary at Toronto 7:30pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs go for their fourth straight home win as they take on the Calgary Flames, who are trying to turn their four-game road trip in the right direction. Igor Korolev scored on a breakaway with 7:28 left in the second period and Curtis Joseph made 17 saves as the Maple Leafs earned a 2-1 victory over Buffalo on Saturday. It was the third straight home win for Toronto, which has not lost at Maple Leaf Gardens since a 3-1 setback to the New York Islanders two weeks ago.
Saturday's victory followed back-to-back losses for the Leafs, who have scored just six times in four games since a 10-goal explosion at Chicago. Toronto has killed off all 16 of its opponent's power plays over the last four contests.
Calgary opened its four-game trip Thursday with a 4-3 loss at Montreal and followed that with a 4-1 defeat in Ottawa on Saturday.
The Flames, who have dropped four of their last five games overall, are a combined 0-4 against teams from Canada, giving up 19 goals in those defeats.
Included among those setbacks was a 7-3 loss to Toronto on October 16th, the Maple Leafs' sixth straight win in the series. Calgary has also lost six consecutive trips to Toronto, last winning there on March 20th, 1994.
Saturday November 21, 1998 Buffalo at Toronto 7pm
The Buffalo Sabres look to extend their unbeaten streak to 10 games and sweep a home-and-home series from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthew Barnaby returned from a four-game suspension to score his first goal since October 30th on Friday as the Sabres defeated Toronto, 4-1, to pull into a tie for first place with the Maple Leafs in the Northeast Division. Barnaby was suspended on November 5th for an elbow to the head of Boston's P.J. Axelsson. Buffalo improved to 6-0-3 in its last nine games, its best stretch since a 13-game unbeaten streak from January 21st-March 2nd of last season.
The Sabres are one game behind the Phoenix Coyotes for the longest run without a loss in the NHL this season and won their third straight against Toronto. Buffalo improved to 10-1-4 in its last 15 contests against the Maple Leafs.
Buffalo, which has permitted just 27 goals, the second-lowest total in the NHL, shut down the Maple Leafs, who lead the league with 58 goals. Two-time Hart Trophy winner Dominik Hasek, who has played all but one period this season, stopped 32 shots.
Toronto has dropped two straight following a three-game winning streak and has managed just four goals in its last three games after erupting for 10 goals against Tampa Bay on November 12th. The Maple Leafs went 0-for-5 on the power play Friday and are 0-for-16 against the Sabres this season with the man advantage. Buffalo has killed 49 of its last 52 shorthanded situations.
Friday November 20, 1998 Toronto at Buffalo 7:30pm
A pair of Northeast Division rivals battle for first place tonight as the Buffalo Sabres put their eight-game unbeaten streak on the line against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opener of a home-and-home series. Toronto has notched nine victories and 20 points, two points more than second-place Buffalo.
The 57 goals for the Maple Leafs are the most in the league, but they have also yielded 54 despite the acquisition of free-agent goalie Curtis Joseph, who boasts an impressive 8-2-2 mark in his last 12 meetings against the Sabres.
Buffalo, led by goaltender Dominik Hasek, has permitted just 26 goals, the second-lowest total in the NHL.
On Wednesday, Joseph was burned for three second-period goals in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. It's been feast or famine for Toronto, which has been outscored 28-8 in its seven losses.
The Sabres have been idle since Saturday, when Michal Grosek scored twice in the second period as Buffalo ran its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Buffalo was in such control of the contest that they were able to rest Hasek for the first time this season. The two-time Hart Trophy-winning netminder, who had played every minute of all 13 games, sat out the third period after Buffalo built a 5-1 lead.
The Sabres are 5-0-3 in their last eight games, their longest unbeaten stretch since January 21st-March 2nd, when they went 13 games without a loss. The undefeated streak is one less than the Phoenix Coyotes for the longest in the NHL this season.
Buffalo captured the first two meetings of the season between the teams, posting back-to-back wins on October 30th and 31st. The Maple Leafs failed to convert any of their 11 power-play opportunities in those two matches.
Overall, Toronto is just 1-7-4 in the last 12 meetings between the teams.
Wednesday November 18, 1998 Toronto at Washington 7pm
Winners of three straight games and owners of the league's best offense, the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Washington Capitals, who have the NHL's worst attack.
The Leafs have scored a league-high 56 goals in 17 games, despite a power play that ranks 24th in the league at 9.3 percent (8-for-68). On the other hand, the Caps have scored a league-low 33 goals in 15 games. New Jersey, Florida and San Jose also have 33 goals.
One game after smoking the Chicago Blackhawks for 10 goals, the Leafs edged the Ottawa Senators, 2-1, Saturday for their third straight win. Toronto already has two three-game winning streaks this season and its nine victories are tied with New Jersey, Dallas and Edmonton for the league lead.
Right wing Steve Thomas has goals in three straight games and is second on the team with seven goals and 15 points. Captain Mats Sundin leads the club with eight goals and 20 points.
Andrei Nikolishin's first goal of the season sparked a second-period explosion as the Capitals posted a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Washington has won two of its last three games overall following a six-game winless streak. The Caps are 0-5-2 at home since winning their first game of the season at the MCI Center.
Washington has won the last five meetings and has not lost a home game to Toronto since January 11th, 1994.
Saturday November 14, 1998 Ottawa at Toronto 7pm
Coming off their best offensive effort this decade, the Toronto Maple Leafs try to match their longest winning streak of the season as they face the Ottawa Senators. Mats Sundin recorded a natural hat trick and Derek King added two goals and an assist as the Maple Leafs trounced Chicago, 10-3, Thursday. It was their first 10-goal game since beating the New York Rangers on February 17th, 1989.
Toronto, which had combined for 10 goals in its previous three outings, is seeking its first three-game winning streak since opening the season 3-0. The Leafs are 3-1-1 in their last five home games.
The Senators saw their winless streak stretched to a season-high four games (0-2-2) on Thursday. Ron Tugnutt gave up the tying goal to Edmonton with 14 seconds left in regulation and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
The news got worse for Ottawa, which lost right wing Daniel Alfredsson late in the second period. He suffered a cut near his right eye after being slashed by Sean Brown and it is unknown if Alfredsson will be able to play tonight.
The good news for the Senators is that they have been a solid road team, going 3-1-1 away from home. Plus, they have won the last four meetings in this series, surrendering just seven goals in that span. Ottawa is 4-0-1 against Toronto since December 5th, 1995.
Thursday November 12, 1998 Toronto at Chicago 8:30pm
The floundering Chicago Blackhawks try to end a seven-game winless streak tonight when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Chicago fell to 0-6-1 in its last seven games with a 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Coach Dirk Graham was displeased with his team's effort, and showed it by sitting the line of left wing Eric Daze, center Alexei Zhamnov and right wing Bob Probert for the second period.
The Blackhawks have not scored more than two goals in any of their last five contests and have been outscored, 25-11, during the seven-game slide.
Chicago finished last season with a seven-game winless streak and has not gone winless in eight straight since an 0-10-3 skid from March 29th-April 23rd, 1995.
Curtis Joseph stopped 32 shots against his former team and received help from the goalpost four times as the Maple Leafs took over first place in the mediocre Northeast Division with a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
The Leafs went 4-1-4 against the Blackhawks last season, including a 2-0-1 mark at Chicago. They have won four straight against the Blackhawks on the road since a 5-2 loss on April 11th, 1996.
Wednesday November 11, 1998 Edmonton vs Toronto 7:30pm
The Edmonton Oilers, who have surged to the top of the Northwest Division, look for their sixth win in seven games tonight when they face the slumping Toronto Maple Leafs. After going 4-1 on a five-game homestand, the Oilers opened a four-game road trip Sunday with a 3-2 overtime victory at Chicago as Josef Beranek scored a power-play goal just 34 seconds into the extra session.
Toronto has fallen off since its surprising 5-1-1 start. Since then, the Maple have gone just 1-5-1, including Monday's 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders. They have been outscored, 25-15, during their seven-game slide.
Alyn McCauley had the lone goal for Toronto, which was 0-for-3 on the power play and fell to 1-for-33 with the extra attacker at home this season. Overall, the Maple Leafs are last in the league in power-play scoring and penalty killing.
Edmonton has won four of six games on the road this season while Toronto is 2-3-2 at home.
The Maple Leafs recorded a 3-2 victory at Edmonton on October 13th. Mats Sundin's second goal of the game with 9:43 remaining in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and gave former Oiler Curtis Joseph a victory in his return to Edmonton.
The 31-year-old goaltender stopped 28 shots in his first appearance at Skyreach Centre since signing a four-year, $24 million deal with the Maple Leafs on July 15th.
Monday November 9, 1998 Ny Islanders vs Toronto 7:30pm
The New York Islanders finish their brief tour of Canada tonight when they face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Islanders are coming off a 4-2 loss to Montreal on Saturday.
The Islanders will have a new face in the lineup tonight. On Saturday, New York acquired versatile forward Ted Donato from the Boston Bruins.
The 29-year-old Donato is a three-time 20-goal scorer. He has one goal and three assists in 13 games this season and is expected to be paired with high-scoring center Robert Reichel, who leads the team with three goals and eight assists for 11 points.
Former Maple Leaf Kenny Jonsson paces the Islander defensemen with three goals and four assists for seven points, including a pair of power-play tallies.
Toronto scored six goals on Saturday, but it was not enough as the New York Rangers also erupted for six goals, including the game-tying tally with 37.8 seconds remaining to forge a tie.
Mike Sullivan is riding a four-game points-scoring streak for Toronto. The compact center has two goals and two assists over that span.
The Maple Leafs' power play continues to struggle, going just 2-for-42 over their last nine games. During that span, Toronto has had games where it went 0-for-8 and 0-for-6 with the extra attacker.
The teams split the two-game series last year, with each victorious on its home ice. The Islanders hold a 44-34-6 margin in the all-time series, but the teams have dueled to a 20-20-3 stalemate in Maple Leaf Gardens.
Saturday November 7, 1998 Ny Rangers vs Toronto 7pm
Struggling to mount any kind of offensive attack, the New York
Rangers begin a three-game road trip tonight against the Toronto
Maple Leafs, whom they have not lost to in almost six years. The
Rangers have won eight straight meetings with the Maple Leafs,
whose last win against New York came on January 30th, 1993. The
punchless Rangers have scored a league-low 18 goals in 12 games
and have yet to tally more than three in any contest. The power
play has not been much of a help, going 2-for-24 in the last six
games and 7-for-60 overall (11.7 percent). The game marks the
first time Rangers defenseman Mathieu Schneider is back in Toronto
since being dealt for Alexander Karpovtsev on October 14th.
Schneider has one goal and two assists for the Rangers in eight
games. New York was held to one goal for the third straight game
in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The Rangers
have lost two straight following a six-game unbeaten streak and
are winless on the road this season (0-2-2). Wayne Gretzky leads
the Rangers with eight points but the veteran line of John MacLean,
Kevin Stevens and Esa Tikkanen has accounted for five of the team's
last eight goals. One night after posting a 3-0 victory over the
Colorado Avalanche, the Maple Leafs fell to the Boston Bruins,
4-1, on Thursday. Toronto has lost four of its last five games
since opening the season 5-1-1. The Leafs' lone goal Thursday
came on the power play, but the unit is ranked last in the
league at 7.5 percent (5-for-67). Captain Mats Sundin leads
Toronto with 13 points but has been limited to one goal and one
assist in the last five games.
Thursday November 5, 1998 Toronto at Boston 7pm
The punchless Boston Bruins hope to end a three-game winless streak tonight and post just their second victory in their last 11 games against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Boston went 1-0-1 against Toronto last season but is just 1-6-3 in the last 10 meetings. The Bruins' 4-0 victory over the Maple Leafs on March 19th was their first since February 27th, 1992.
With a 3-0 shutout of the San Jose Sharks on October 18th, the Bruins improved to 3-1-1. But they have gone 1-5-1 since, due mainly to an offense that has managed just 14 goals in that span -- nine in one game.
Center Jason Allison leads Boston with nine points but is pointless in his last three games, as is second-leading scorer Sergei Samsonov.
Providing a spark tonight for the Bruins should be 24-year-old center-left wing Anson Carter, who ended his holdout today and signed a two-year contract. Carter collected career highs of 16 goals and 27 assists in 78 contests last season.
Curtis Joseph continued his dominance of the Colorado Avalanche and Steve Thomas had a goal and an assist in a the second period as the Maple Leafs ended their three-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory Wednesday.
Toronto has scored 23 goals in winning four of six road games this season. Despite a power play that is an abysmal 1-for-47 over the last nine contests and ranked last in the league, the Leafs have managed to score a respectable 33 goals in 11 games.
After collecting just one assist in his previous three games, captain Mats Sundin scored his team-leading fifth goal Wednesday.
Wednesday November 4, 1998 Colorado at Toronto 7:30pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to halt their three-game losing streak tonight when they host the Colorado Avalanche, who are in the midst of a six-game road trip. The Maple Leafs are coming off a home-and-home sweep at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, capped by Saturday's 6-3 loss. Toronto started the season 5-1-1 but has scored just four goals during the three-game skid.
The Leafs went 3-for-13 on the power play in the season's first two games, but are a dismal 1-for-43 with the man advantage in the last eight contests, resulting in the league's worst power play.
Center Mats Sundin leads Toronto with 12 points but has just one assist in the last three games.
The Avalanche seem to be slowly rounding into form after opening the season 0-4-1. They are 3-2-1 in their last six and have split the first two games of their road trip, which continues Friday in Edmonton.
Center Peter Forsberg, who scored his first goal of the season in Monday's 3-2 win over Carolina, has one goal and 11 assists during a seven-game points streak.
Backup goaltender Craig Billington is 2-1-0 with a 2.68 goals-against average, while Patrick Roy is off to an awful start with a 1-5-1 record and a 3.84 GAA.
The Avalanche went 3-0-1 against the Maple Leafs in 1997-98 and are 8-3-1 in the series over the last three seasons.