GAME DAY PREVIEWS
Updated: Saturday October 31, 1998 3:00PM EST
Saturday October 31, 1998 Buffalo at Toronto 7pm
The Buffalo Sabres look to continue their mastery over the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight when they go for a sweep of the home-and-home series. Two-time Hart Trophy winner Dominik Hasek made 36 saves, just missing his second straight shutout, and the Sabres scored three times in the first period in a 4-1 victory over the Maple Leafs on Friday.
Buffalo is 8-1-4 in its last 13 meetings with Toronto. The Leafs' only victory during that span was a 4-3 decision in Toronto on November 19th, 1996.
After allowing four goals against the New York Islanders a week ago, Hasek has looked like his old self in the last two games, stopping 52 of 53 shots.
Hasek has surrendered just seven goals in his last four games against Toronto. Meanwhile, Toronto goaltender Curtis Joseph boasts an impressive 8-2-2 mark in his last 12 meetings against Buffalo.
The Leafs have dropped consecutive games following a brief two-game winning streak. Their struggles can be attributed to an anemic power play that is 1-for-38 over the last seven games. Toronto went scoreless in six opportunities with the extra attacker on Friday.
Friday October 30, 1998 Toronto at Buffalo 7:30pm
Two teams with struggling power-play units do battle as the Toronto Maple Leafs try to beat the Sabres in Buffalo for the first time in nearly seven years. Dominik Hasek had to stop only 16 shots for his fourth straight shutout against the New York Rangers, but Buffalo was blanked for the second time in three games in the season's first scoreless tie on Tuesday.
Buffalo, beaten 1-0 by Washington on Friday, is 0-2-1 in its last three games. The Sabres have one goal in their last 18 power-play opportunities and are 1-for-13 with the man advantage at home, where they have yet to win this season (0-1-1).
The Maple Leafs were 0-for-8 on the power play in a 2-0 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday, ending their three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1). Toronto, which is 1-for-32 with the extra attacker over the last six games, was blanked for the first time this season after collecting 13 tallies during the unbeaten streak.
The Leafs have been outstanding on the road, going 4-1 away from home while scoring 22 goals.
But they have not won in Buffalo since February 17th, 1991, going 0-4-2. The Sabres are 2-0-1 in the last three meetings of this series overall, with Hasek giving up just six goals in that span.
Monday October 26, 1998 Pittsburgh at Toronto 7:30pm
The surprising Toronto Maple Leafs look to extend their unbeaten streak to four games as they try to complete a home-and-home sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fedrik Modin snapped a tie early in the third period and Mats Sundin had a goal and three assists to lead Toronto to a 6-4 victory in Pittsburgh on Saturday. The win ended a four-game losing streak in this series for the Maple Leafs, who managed only one goal in two games against the Penguins last season.
With Saturday's win, Toronto improved to 2-0-1 in its last three games and remained tied with Dallas for the league's best record. The Leafs have already earned 11 points after failing to record 13 until November 11th in their 16th game last season.
During the recent unbeaten streak, Sundin has collected two goals and five assists for Toronto, which has a win over Detroit and a tie with Nashville in its only home games of the season.
Conversely, the Penguins are winless in their last three games (0-2-1). They have given up 14 goals during that span after allowing just four in winning their first two contests.
The Pens' struggles can be directly attributed to an injury to starting goaltender Tom Barrasso. He went on injured reserve with a pulled groin on October 17th after stopping 44 of 48 shots in Pittsburgh's first two games.
Peter Skudra has since taken over in net, turning aside just 51 of 61 shots for a dismal .836 save percentage.
Saturday October 24, 1998 Toronto at Pittsburgh 7pm
An early surprise as co-holders of the league's best record, the Toronto Maple Leafs try to win in Pittsburgh for the first time in five tries as they battle the Penguins. Toronto posted a 5-3 win over the defending champion Detroit Red Wings on Friday, improving to 3-1 on the road. The Maple Leafs share the best record of the young season with the Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers.
Sergei Berezin has three goals and an assist over the last two games for the Leafs, who are 0-for-22 on the power play over the last four contests. They have given up six in that same span.
Toronto has lost the last four meetings of this series and managed only one goal in two games against goaltender Tom Barrasso and the Penguins last season. The Leafs have lost three straight visits to Pittsburgh since March 10th, 1994.
It is unknown if Barasso will be available for this contest but the Penguins could definitely use him between the pipes. Barrasso was in net for Pittsburgh's first two games -- stopping 44 of 48 shots in a pair of wins. But he went on injured reserve October 17th with a pulled groin and Peter Skudra has started in net the last two games, going 0-1-1.
After scoring 10 times in its first three games, Pittsburgh was blanked on Wednesday in its first loss of the season, 5-0 to the previously winless Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Penguins lost for the first time in four games this season and were shut out for the first time since a scoreless tie against Dallas on March 22nd. They recorded a 3-3 tie against the New York Rangers four days earlier in their only home game.
Pittsburgh had scored a power-play goal in each of their first three games but went 0-for-5 on Wednesday. The Pens gave up a pair of power-play goals for the second consecutive contest.
Friday October 23, 1998 Toronto at Detroit 7:30pm
Scotty Bowman, the winningest coach in NHL history, will be behind the bench for the first time this season when his Detroit Red Wings try to avenge an opening-game loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. After undergoing an angioplasty and knee replacement surgery in the summer, the 65-year-old Bowman, who has led Detroit to consecutive Stanley Cup championships, is ready to make his return after watching the first two weeks of the season. Darren McCarty and Doug Brown scored two goals apiece as Detroit blistered the expansion Nashville Predators with 57 shots in a 5-2 victory Wednesday.
It was the Red Wings' fourth straight win and second in a row at home. Brendan Shanahan, who leads the league with six goals, is riding a four-game goal-scoring streak.
Detroit has been almost perfect on the penalty kill this season, allowing only one goal in 26 chances.
When the teams met on October 10th, Curtis Joseph outdueled Chris Osgood as the Maple Leafs edged Detroit, 2-1. Alyn McCauley and Sergei Berezin scored for Toronto, while Larry Murphy notched the Wings' lone tally.
On Monday, Fredrik Modin's first goal of the season with 6:09 remaining in the second period lifted the Leafs into a 2-2 tie with the Predators.
After scoring three power-play goals in its first two contests, Toronto is a dismal 0-for-18 with the man advantage over the last three games.
McCauley and Mats Sundin lead the Leafs with five points apiece.
Detroit won four of six meetings between the teams last season, but lost two of the three contests at Joe Louis Arena.
Monday October 19, 1998 Nashville at Toronto 7:30pm
The Nashville Predators again go for their first road win tonight when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nashville played the first road game in its brief history on Saturday and lost at Ottawa, 3-1. That setback came four days after the Predators posted their first win ever with a 3-2 triumph at home over Carolina. Mike Dunham has been solid between the pipes for Nashville, surrendering six goals in three games while stopping 90 shots. After winning their first three games, the Maple Leafs lost on Saturday at Vancouver, 4-1, to close a three-game road trip. Toronto's only home game was a 2-1 victory over Detroit in its season opener. Netminder Curtis Joseph was tremendous in winning the Leafs' first two contests, stopping 66 of 69 shots. But he was awful on Saturday, making just 13 saves. Toronto is 0-for-13 on the power play over the last two games after scoring three times with the man advantage in its first two contests.
Friday October 16, 1998 Toronto at Vancouver 10pm
The Toronto Maple Leafs look for their fourth straight win tonight when they travel to Vancouver to meet the Canucks. Mike Johnson scored twice in a four-goal first-period outburst and Derek King and Alyn McCauley each had a goal and two assists as the Maple Leafs downed the Calgary Flames, 7-3, Friday. As Felix Potvin started in goal for Toronto in Friday's win, No. 1 goalie Curtis Joseph will most likely be back in the net tonight. The 31-year-old Curtis, a free-agent signee during the offseason, has turned aside 66 shots in winning his first two games for his new club. After opening their season with a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings, the Canucks were dealt a 4-1 loss by the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. Vancouver has scored twice in 14 opportunities this season on the power play, while surrendering three goals in 10 shorthanded chances. The teams split the season series a year ago, 1-1-2.
Friday October 16, 1998 Toronto at Calgary 9pm
The Calgary Flames return to North America to play their home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a matchup of unbeaten teams. Calgary is coming off a two-game series against the San Jose Sharks at Yoyogi Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The Flames skated to a 3-3 tie with San Jose on Saturday before posting a 5-3 victory the following day. Theoren Fleury recorded his 12th career hat trick and added two assists in that win, finishing with six points in the series. He is second on the franchise's all-time list for hat tricks, trailing Kent Nilsson by only one.
Toronto has won five straight meetings with Calgary, including four one-goal wins last season.
Curtis Joseph, who signed a four-year, $24 million deal with Toronto in the offseason, has stopped 66 shots in leading his new club to two wins. He has helped the Maple Leafs kill 10-of-11 power plays.
On Tuesday, Mats Sundin's second goal of the game with 9:43 remaining in the third period made a winner out of Joseph in his return to Edmonton as Toronto edged the Oilers, 3-2. It also improved Pat Quinn to 2-0 as Maple Leafs coach.
Tuesday October 13, 1998 Toronto at Edmonton 9pm
Curtis Joseph returns to Edmonton tonight
for the first time since signing with the Maple Leafs as the Toronto Maple
Leafs visit the Oilers. Joseph played three seasons for
Edmonton, but signed a four-year,
$24 million deal with the Maple Leafs
in the offseason. He went just
29-31-9 last season but was
outstanding in eliminating Western Conference power Colorado from the
quarterfinals, posting consecutive shutouts in Games Six and Seven as the
Oilers rebounded from a 3-1 deficit in the series.
The 31-year-old Joseph paid immediate dividends for Toronto on Saturday,
stopping 38 shots in a 2-1 victory over the two-time Stanley Cup champion
Detroit Red Wings.
The Leafs went 2-1 against Joseph last season and 2-2 overall against
Edmonton. They lost, 2-1, at Skyreach Centre on October 11th and 4-3 at
Edmonton in their regular-season finale to current Oilers netminder Bob
Essensa.
Essensa backed up newly acquired Mikhail Shtalenkov in Saturday's 2-1 loss
to the Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton managed just 24 shots but received
good news Monday as hold out Ryan Smyth reportedly re-signed with the
team. Smyth and fellow hold out Doug Weight combined for 46 goals and 57
assists last season.
The Oilers have not started a season with consecutive losses since 1995-96,
when they dropped their first four games. They finished that campaign with
just 68 points.
Saturday October 10, 1998 Detroit at Toronto 7:00pm
The Detroit Red Wings begin defense of their second
straight Stanley Cup championship tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs,
who play their first game under new coach Pat Quinn. The Red Wings swept aside the
overmatched Washington Capitals in
four games in June to capture their
second straight Stanley Cup title.
Detroit is arguably still the best team
in the league but expects to be challenged again by the Dallas Stars this
season.
The Wings will be without head coach Scotty Bowman for an undetermined
time while he heals from off-season knee surgery. In Bowman's absence, the
team will be run by associate coaches Dave Lewis and Barry Smith.
Detroit made just one important pickup in the offseason. Defenseman Uwe
Krupp was lured away from the rival Colorado Avalanche with a four-year
contract and is an upgrade from the departed Bob Rouse. Also gone from last
season's defensive unit are Dmitri Mironov and Viacheslav Fetisov, who
retired.
Nicklas Lidstrom, Larry Murphy, Krupp and Jamie Macoun form the core of
the defense, while youngsters Anders Eriksson and Aaron Ward complete
one of the league's best blueline groups.
The Wings are loaded up front, with captain Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov,
Vyacheslav Kozlov, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Lapointe and the emerging
Tomas Holmstrom, who erupted for 19 points in 22 playoff games. Detroit
had 11 players score in double figures in the regular season.
Goaltender Chris Osgood came through in the playoffs last season but doesn't
seem to get the respect he deserves. He was 33-20-11 with a 2.21
goals-against average and six shutouts in the regular season.
Toronto moves to the Eastern Conference this season as a member of the
Northeast Division and will leave ancient Maple Leaf Gardens for the new Air
Canada Centre in February. The Leafs also have a new leader in Quinn, who
last coached the Vancouver Canucks in 1996.
The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the second straight season with a
30-43-9 record last year. There is a desperate need for goal scoring in
Toronto, which averaged only 2.8 goals per game last season and had only
two players reach 20 (Mats Sundin and Derek King).
Youngsters Fredrik Modin, Mike Johnson and Steve Sullivan are being
counted on to improve the offense, while Sundin is by far the team's best
player. The defense is led by talented Mathieu Schneider, up-and-coming
Jason Smith and veteran Sylvain Cote, but the rest of the group is mediocre.
Schneider, however, is still a holdout.
Right now, Toronto boasts the best goaltending tandem in the game with
free-agent signee Curtis Joseph and Felix Potvin. Joseph was inked to a
four-year, $24 million deal with the notion Potvin would eventually be traded
for help in other areas.
Detroit went 4-2 against Toronto last season but the former division rivals only
meet three times this year.