GAME SUMMARIES
Updated: Wednesday February 24, 1999 11:06PM EST
Wednesday February 24, 1999 Carolina at Toronto
Alyn McCauley returned to the lineup following a 22-game absence and scored the tying goal with 5:05 remaining to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 2-2 tie with the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.
McCauley picked up a loose puck in the high slot and one-timed a blast past Arturs Irbe. It was his first game back since he suffered a sprained knee on Dec. 30.
On Wednesday, McCauley left the game with two minutes remaining in the second period after what looked to be a serious knee-on-knee collision with a Carolina player. However, he returned to the Toronto bench for the third period.
Mats Sundin also scored for the Maple Leafs, who are now 1-0-1 in their new home, the Air Canada Centre. Toronto beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime Saturday.
Keith Primeau and Sami Kapanen scored for Carolina, which outshot Toronto 26-20 through two periods. The Maple Leafs dominated the third period, outshooting the Hurricanes 10-4.
Both Irbe and Toronto's Curtis Joseph were sharp in goal.
Irbe made a big save off Todd Warriner with the game scoreless in the first period and a sprawling pad stop off Steve Thomas in the first minute of the second period. The Maple Leafs peppered Irbe on a power play midway through the third period before McCauley finally connected for his eighth goal of the season.
Joseph was equally sharp when tested by the Hurricanes in the first two periods.
Primeau opened the scoring at 13:54 of the first period when he stepped over the Toronto blue line and fired a wrist shot under the glove of Joseph.
Kapanen made it 2-0 on the power play at 12:53 of the second period, banging in a double rebound.
Sundin narrowed the margin to 2-1 at 14:48 of the second period, deflecting a Karpovtsev point drive past Irbe.
Monday February 22, 1999 Toronto at Washington
Mike Eagles scored the tie-breaking goal with 13:57 left as the surging Washington Capitals defeated Toronto 4-3 Monday night to extend their home winning streak to season-high five games.
James Black added an insurance goal with 11:12 remaining for the Capitals, whose recent 8-2-1 surge has lifted them within four points of the idle Florida Panthers in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Washington was 7-13-2 at home before finally getting hot at the MCI Center. The five-game home streak is well short of the franchise record of nine, but comes at an opportune time for the defending conference champions.
With the score 2-2, Black took a shot that was batted aside by Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph. Washington's Jaroslav Svejkovsky gained possession of the rebound on the left side and sent a centering pass to Eagles, who lifted the puck high into the net.
After Black scored to make it 4-2, Mike Johnson got his 17th goal for Toronto with 6:42 left. But the Maple Leafs never tested Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig after that.
Joseph had 24 saves for the Maple Leafs, who lost three of four to the Capitals this season.
Toronto trailed 1-0 in the first period before Garry Valk and Ladislav Kohn scored in a span of 99 seconds. After Valk beat Kolzig on a breakaway at 12:39, Mats Sundin skated around Washington defenseman Sergei Gonchar at the blue line before sending a pass across the slot to Kohn on the left side of the net.
It was the second career goal for Kohn, playing in his 13th NHL game, and his first since October 1995 when he scored for Calgary during a brief respite from the minor leagues.
The Maple Leafs lost a chance to add to their 2-1 lead early in the second period when a power-play goal by Bryan Berard was wiped out by a replay review. Berard collided with Kolzig in the crease, jolting the net off its moorings as the puck went in.
Washington tied it at 13:55 of the period on Adam Oates' 10th goal of the season, a close-in shot that squirted under Joseph's pads. The period ended with Joseph stuffing a breakaway attempt by Peter Bondra.
Saturday February 20, 1999 Montreal at Toronto
Another 72 seconds, and the gala opening game at the Toronto Maple Leafs' new arena would have ended in an anti-climactic tie.
But Steve Thomas converted a fine pass from rookie Ladislav Kohn at 3:48 of overtime, and the Maple Leafs inaugurated the Air Canada Centre with a dramatic 3-2 victory Saturday night over arch-rival Montreal.
"A new building, an overtime goal," said Thomas, whose ninth career OT goal tied Mario Lemieux's NHL record. "I couldn't think of a better place to be than on the ice right then."
It was the first home game since 1931 played by the Maple Leafs at a venue other than Maple Leaf Gardens, the historic arena now relegated to hosting minor-league hockey and pro lacrosse.
The Maple Leafs players had mild complaints about the new arena's ice and also seemed to miss the deafening noise of the more intimate Gardens.
"It wasn't as loud here," said forward Derek King. "We need to play better."
Maple Leafs forward Todd Warriner had the honor of scoring the first goal in the new arena, flicking the puck past Montreal goalie Jeff Hackett at 6:04 of the first period. It was Warriner's seventh goal of the season, and his first on home ice.
"I was just in the right place at the right time," said Warriner. "It's probably my biggest goal in the NHL."
Montreal drew even at 15:42 of the first period, with Scott Thornton sliding a shot just inside the post from 15 feet on a pass from Mark Recchi in the corner.
Mats Sundin put the Maple Leafs back in front, 2-1, at 17:16, faking out Hackett on a breakaway set up by Thomas' long pass.
After a scoreless second period, Montreal caught up with the Maple Leafs after gaining a two-man advantage early in the third period. Vladimir Malakhov blasted a slap shot past Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph from the point at 1:41.
In overtime, there were few chances until Kohn -- recalled from Toronto's farm team just five days ago -- streaked down the side, then threaded a pass to Thomas just a few feet in front of Hackett.
Joseph made several brilliant saves, including a dive onto a loose puck in the first period after he had lost his stick during a Canadiens' power play.
Toronto coach Pat Quinn said the ice deteriorated badly by the third period, and otherwise just seemed relieved the high-pressure week was over.
"It's been a hard time for all our guys," he said. "You have to learn to play in those situations."
Montreal defenseman Eric Weinrich said the Canadiens, who ended a three-game winning streak, found the new arena less daunting than the Gardens even though they lost.
"It was not as imposing," he said. "It was the Leafs' first game as well as ours -- they were not as familiar with the building."
The game ended a momentous and hectic week for the Maple Leafs, who a week earlier lost to Chicago 6-2 in the final game at the Gardens.
The Air Canada Centre's seating and amenities are far more comfortable and sophisticated than the cramped, 68-year-old Gardens, but its interior has little to distinguish it from many other new arenas across North America.
It seats 18,800 fans for hockey, up from 15,746 at the Gardens. There are 152 luxury suites, with annual leases costing up to $235,000, and the best 1,500 regular seats require purchase of a $10,000 seat license.
Many of the fans in those choice seats lingered in special lounges after the end of the two intermissions, and players noticed the many empty seats as play resumed.
"It took a little away from the atmosphere," said Thomas.
The arena, in a prime downtown location near the SkyDome and the train station, was built for $177 million -- none of it public money. It became the fourth of the six NHL arenas in Canada to be named for a corporate sponsor.
The pre-game ceremony was opened by the 48th Highlanders, a regimental bagpipe and drum band that was a staple at Maple Leaf Gardens openers over the years. Highlights from the the Maple Leafs' glory days were shown on the video screen, then banners of Stanley Cup championships and retired and honored players' numbers were unfurled from the rafters.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation managed to televise the game nationally on "Hockey Night in Canada" despite a 5-day-old strike by its 2,000 technicians and support personnel.
The CBC, without its own crews, used an international feed which goes to broadcasters around the world who wish to show NHL hockey.
NBA basketball makes its debut at the arena Sunday when the Toronto Raptors, who were bought by the Maple Leafs owners a year ago, play the Vancouver Grizzlies.
Wednesday February 17, 1999 Toronto at Buffalo
Mats Sundin scored his third career overtime goal after backup goaltender Glenn Healy kept Toronto in the game as the Maple Leafs beat the Sabres 3-2 Wednesday for their first victory in Buffalo in eight years.
Steve Thomas stole the puck behind the Buffalo net and pushed it to Sundin in front for the winning goal with 56 seconds left in overtime. Sabres forward Miroslav Satan's wraparound goal midway through the third period tied the game.
The Sabres had an eight-game unbeaten string at home (6-0-2) against the Maple Leafs, dating back to a 3-0 Maple Leafs win at the Aud on Feb. 17, 1991.
Tie Domi and Steve Sullivan also scored for Toronto. Healy, making his first start since Jan. 7, picked up his first win since Dec. 19.
Dixon Ward scored the first goal for Buffalo, which trails second-place Toronto by four points in the Northeast Division. The Leafs moved within two points of Ottawa.
The Sabres failed to score with a man advantage three times, and now have come up empty on their last 32 power plays.
In losing three of their first four games against the Sabres this season, the Maple Leafs had been outscored 7-0 in the first period. This time, the Leafs, who went into the game leading the league with 175 goals, connected first 4:14 into the game.
Domi dived for the rebound of a shot by Thomas and put in his fourth career score against Buffalo. It was Domi's second career goal against Hasek.
In the second, after Satan hit the post with a backhander, Sabres captain Michael Peca went off for roughing at 1:19. A minute later, the Leafs clicked for their second goal.
Thomas crossed the Buffalo blue line and passed to Sundin, who found Sullivan for a 2-0 lead.
Ward got the Sabres going with his 16th goal about a minute later. Peca fed Ward, who faked Toronto's Ladislav Kohn in the slot and popped the puck in.
The Sabres had an apparent tying goal by Curtis Brown called back midway in the second period when officials ruled Michal Grosek was in the crease. The replay clearly showed Grosek's skate was in the crease, but he appeared to have pulled out by the time the puck crossed the line.
Monday February 15, 1999 Toronto at New Jersey
Don't try to tell the New Jersey Devils they are struggling because they've won only once in the first five games of a six-game homestand. They won't hear it. It's bad breaks, they say, and another one turned up in a 3-3 tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night. Gary Valk got a gift goal late in the second period when New Jersey defenseman Lyle Odelein tipped a shot past Martin Brodeur, giving the Toronto Maple Leafs a 3-3 tie with the Devils. "We wanted to get as many shots on Brodeur as possible," Valk said. "I just tried to shoot the puck quick. (Igor) Korolev gave me a great pass. I got lucky it went in. We were bound to have a few breaks."
This one helped Toronto avoid a three-game losing streak and it gave New Jersey a 1-3-1 record on its current homestand.
"I don't think we're struggling, we'll be fine," veteran Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko said. "We've lost a lot of one-goal games at home and we're a little snake-bit. We're going to be fine, I'm very confident."
Even Brodeur wasn't upset by the goal after making 28 saves.
"The shot was probably going on the far post and maybe even wide and Odie just tipped it right between my legs, that's why I fell and it went through my legs," he said.
Bryan Berard and Derek King also scored for Toronto in its first game since a 6-2 loss to Chicago on Saturday night in an emotional final game at Maple Leaf Gardens.
"We all tried so hard Saturday night we shot ourselves in the foot," Valk said. "Sometimes you can try too hard and not do anything. Tonight we tried to relax."
Jay Pandolfo, Bobby Holik and Jason Arnott scored for New Jersey, which started its miserable homestand with a 3-2 loss to Toronto on Feb. 6.
This more physical game ended with two scuffles near Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph, and Randy McKay of the Devils and Tie Domi yelling at each other in front of the Toronto bench.
Brodeur and Joseph made big saves late.
Joseph stopped Petr Sykora in close early in the third period and Brodeur made a great sliding stop on Sergei Berezin on a power play late in the third period. New Jersey had all three shots in the overtime but none tested Joseph. Arnott had given New Jersey the lead with a power-play goal at 1:41 of the second period with a shot from the right circle that beat Joseph between the pads.
Pandolfo and Holik had scored 1:59 apart late in the first period to tie the game.
Pandolfo poked his 13th of the season into the net after Joseph made spectacular saves in close on defenseman Brad Bombardir and Brian Rolston. The chances resulted when Berard fell backing up at his own blue line.
Holik's 22nd came when Joseph whiffed on a 40-foot slap shot with a clear view of the puck.
Berard and King scored 61 seconds apart to put the Maple Leafs ahead 2-0. Berard capped a 2-on-1 with former Devil Steve Thomas by scoring on a backhander at 8:03. King scored his second in as many games by putting a shot from the left circle between Brodeur's pads when there appeared to be no room.
Saturday February 13, 1999 Chicago at Toronto
On a night of tears, cheers and hockey nostalgia, the Chicago Blackhawks finished what they started -- winning the last NHL game at historic Maple Leaf Gardens just as they won the first 68 years ago.
Unfazed by the hoopla of a gala goodbye party, the Blackhawks dominated for all but a few moments in the second period to break a seven-game losing streak and subdue a celebrity-studded crowd Saturday night with a 6-2 victory over Toronto.
There was symmetry to the outcome, since it was the Blackhawks who won the opening game in the Gardens back in November 1931, beating the Maple Leafs 2-1.
The Blackhawks' Bob Probert had the honor of scoring the final NHL goal at the Gardens -- only his third of the season.
"I got the puck and I'm going to put it on a plaque," said Probert. "I'll never forget this moment."
Though the Gardens will remain a venue for minor league hockey and other events, the Maple Leafs will have a new home as of next Saturday -- the 18,800-seat Air Canada Centre. The game with Chicago marked the NHL's departure from the last of the arenas built in the 1920s and '30s for the league's Original Six franchises.
Toronto coach Pat Quinn said his players were disappointed to fall short on such a big occasion.
"They wanted to win very badly tonight," he said. "They tried very hard -- they just weren't very smart."
The Maple Leafs, who had been under an intense media spotlight heading into the game, seemed nervous at the start, and Chicago jumped to a quick 2-0 lead. Tony Amonte backhanded his own rebound past Curtis Joseph at 4:18 for his 28th goal, and Reid Simpson made it 2-0 at 6:41 with his first goal of the season.
Former Maple Leafs captain Doug Gilmour stretched the Blackhawks' lead to 3-0 on a power-play goal at 3:11 of the second period before the Maple Leafs rallied.
With a two-man advantage for Toronto, Steve Thomas knocked in a pass across the crease from Steve Sullivan for the first Maple Leafs' goal, and Derek King pulled Toronto within a goal at 8:15, beating a sprawling Jocelyn Thibault from close range.
The crowd began to sound hopeful, then was stunned as Chicago put the game away with three straight goals in the third period. Simpson scored his second goal at 3:48, Eric Daze beat Joseph with a high slap shot at 5:19 and Probert scored at 11:05.
Fans shook off their disappointment and began a standing ovation when longtime announcer Paul Morris said, as he had done hundreds of times before: "Last minute of play in this period."
After the game, more than 100 former Maple Leafs players marched one by one onto the rink for an hour-long, nationally televised ceremony bidding farewell to the Gardens by remembering its great moments. Resounding ovations greeted many of the former stars, including Hall of Famers Lanny McDonald, Borje Salming, Darryl Sittler, Frank Mahovlich and Johnny Bower.
Among the alumni was Red Horner, 89, the only surviving member of the 1931 team that played the Gardens' opening game.
At the close of the post-game ceremony, Horner handed a team flag to Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin.
"Mats, take this flag to our new home, but always remember us," Horner said.
Sundin said he had mixed feelings about moving to a new arena.
"We're very comfortable here," he said. "Now it feels like we'll have to start all over." The Maple Leafs completed their 68-year run at the Gardens with a record of 1,215-768-356. They won 11 of their 13 Stanley Cups at the arena, but none since 1967.
Before the game, Quinn reflected wistfully on the NHL's shift away from the old hockey rinks to new, all-purpose arenas.
"We've slowly lost our shrines," he said. "As we've moved to these monstrous buildings -- that are beautiful and great places to showcase our game -- we've lost the old element where it was just a place for the everyday guy to go."
Scalpers commanded $400 for the worst seats in the house, much more for good seats.
"This is history," said Phillip DuPre, who shelled out $1,000 for a pair of mid-level seats for himself and his 13-year-old son, Jon. "I grew up watching the Leafs here. No price is too high for tonight."
Wednesday February 10, 1999 Carolina at Toronto
Ron Francis said goodbye to Maple Leaf Gardens in his own special way with a five-point performance.
The 35-year-old native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, who grew up a Maple Leafs' fan, had two goals and three assists in his final game at the 67-year-old arena as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Maple Leafs 6-5 Wednesday night. It was the next-to-last NHL game to be played at Maple Leaf Gardens. The Maple Leafs will play their final game at the Gardens on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks before opening their new Air Canada Centre on Feb. 20 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Francis spent the morning of the game wandering the halls of the Gardens savoring memories from his 18-year NHL career.
"I took a little extra time today looking at all the old pictures and memorabilia on the walls," Francis said. "A lot of great games have been played here.
"We'd have Hockey Night in Canada on Saturdays and watch Dave Keon when I was a kid. Then I got a chance to play with him my first year in Hartford. This is the big rink for Ontario kids. It was a dream come true to play here."
The superb 1,300th career NHL game for Francis overshadowed a couple of impressive feats for two Maple Leafs. Right wing Sergei Berezin recorded a natural hat trick and goalie Curtis Joseph notched his team record-tying fifth assist of the season.
Martin Gelinas, Ray Sheppard, Kevin Dineen and Paul Ranheim also scored for Carolina, which opened a six-point lead on the idle second-place Florida Panthers.
Steve Sullivan and Fredrik Modin rounded out the scoring for Toronto. Igor Korolev assisted on all three of linemate Berezin's goals. The Maple Leafs remained one point behind the Northeast Division-leading Ottawa Senators, who did not play.
"It's a pretty good feeling, especially in this building before it closes," Berezin said of his first career hat trick.
The lead switched hands several times with neither team able to open up a two-goal margin until Ranheim's goal at 13:32 of the third period made it 6-4. Goals by Francis (twice), Sheppard and Dineen put the Hurricanes ahead by one each time. Two of Berezin's goals and one by Sullivan tied the score. The Maple Leafs outshot Carolina 29-25.
"It wasn't one of our best games, but give them credit," Joseph said. "They have some speedy forwards who worked to get open and we made more mistakes than normal."
Francis put the Hurricanes ahead to stay at 7:10 of the third period when he rifled a wrist shot from the high slot. That made the score 5-4.
Berezin opened the scoring at 11:34 of the first period, beating Carolina goalie Arturs Irbe with a low drive. He tied the game 2-2 at 18:47 when he one-timed a pass from Tie Domi. The Russian forward completed his hat trick at 9:39 of the second period on a weak backhander. That tied the game 3-3.
Joseph registered an assist on Toronto's fourth goal when he purposely fired the puck up ice to a streaking Sullivan. That gave Joseph five assists for the season, equalling a Maple Leafs high set in 1978-79 by Mike Palmateer and matched by Ken Wregget in 1987-88.
Carolina left wing Gary Roberts assisted on both goals by Francis, giving him 300 for his NHL career.
Saturday February 6, 1999 Toronto at New Jersey
Steve Sullivan scored twice, including the game-winner with 2:59 left in the third period, and Curtis Joseph made 39 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 Saturday night.
The game featured a matchup of two of the NHL's top goalies, Joseph and the Devils' Martin Brodeur. They both started the game tied for the league lead in victories (23) along with Buffalo's Dominik Hasek.
Sergei Berezin also scored for Toronto.
Petr Sykora and Randy McKay scored for New Jersey, which had its three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) stopped.
Sullivan decided the game with a deflection of a shot by Mats Sundin. The two goals were the first by Sullivan against the team that traded him to Toronto on Feb. 25, 1997, as part of the deal that brought Doug Gilmour to the Devils.
Joseph preserved the win with several clutch saves near the end as the Devils pressed for the tying goal. He stopped all 18 shots in the final period.
New Jersey outplayed Toronto by a wide margin in the opening period but came away with only a 2-1 lead thanks to some spectacular saves by Joseph.
The Devils, who outshot the Maple Leafs 13-5 in the period, got goals from Sykora at 2:31 and McKay at 8:46. Sykora, breaking 2-on-1 into the Toronto zone with Patrick Elias, fired a shot over Joseph's left shoulder. McKay, denied on his initial stuff shot, kept digging to knock his own rebound past Joseph.
Although beaten twice, Joseph denied Jay Pandolfo on a breakaway with four minutes remaining and made a brilliant sliding stop on Elias in the closing seconds to keep Toronto in the game.
Sullivan scored an unassisted goal for Toronto with 2:07 remaining as he intercepted an errant pass in the New Jersey zone.
Berezin scored the only goal of the more-evenly played second period at 2:00. Gary Valk set up Berezin in the left circle with a cross-ice pass.
Brodeur came up some key stops early in the third to preserve the 2-2 tie. Igor Korolev had him at his mercy with Toronto on a 5-on-3 power play about five minutes into the period, but Brodeur knocked that shot aside with his catching glove.
About two minutes later, Brodeur came through again with a pad save to deny Valk on a shorthanded breakaway.
Wednesday February 3, 1999 Toronto at Florida
Pavel Bure scored for the eighth time in eight games since coming to Florida and Sean Burke made 34 saves as the Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 Wednesday night.
Radek Dvorak, Mark Parrish, Ray Whitney and Rob Niedermayer also scored as the Panthers derailed the NHL's highest-scoring team and gave coach Terry Murray his 300th career win.
Bure also assisted on Whitney's goal, giving him 10 points since Florida acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks in a seven-player deal a week before the All-Star break. The Panthers are 5-2-1 during that time.
Florida also recorded its first win in eight tries against Toronto goaltender Curtis Joseph, who entered the game with a 5-0-1 record and 1.91 goals-against average against the Panthers.
Steve Sullivan and Steve Thomas scored for Toronto, which has 162 goals in 50 games this season. The Maple Leafs missed a chance to equal last year's win total of 30.
Burke improved his unbeaten streak to 4-0-1 with several flashy saves, including a sequence of three in a row from point-blank range late in the second period. He also denied Thomas and Sergei Berezin on first-period breakaways.
Bure's blistering shot off Niedermayer's pass gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 16:42 of the first period. Niedermayer regained the puck after a blocked shot and whipped a centering pass to a speeding Bure.
Dvorak boosted Florida's lead to 2-0 at 18:21 of the second period, lifting a shot over Joseph's stick after a failed wraparound attempt. Sullivan countered just 64 seconds later by deflecting Jason Smith's long shot past Burke.
Parrish scored his 13th goal at 6:00 of the third period when he finished a pretty sequence with Viktor Kozlov and Dvorak. Kozlov managed to push a pass ahead to Dvorak as he was falling, and Dvorak sent a cross-ice pass that Parrish put away.
Whitney made it 4-1 Florida with his team-leading 15th goal at 10:09 of the third period. Thomas drew the Maple Leafs within two when he banked a shot off Burke's back at 13:03. Niedermayer's goal was an empty-netter with 24.4 seconds left.
Tuesday February 2, 1999 Toronto at Tampa Bay
Bryan Berard and Sergei Berezin scored second-period power-play goals and Curtis Joseph stopped 23 shots Tuesday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0.
Berard broke a scoreless tie at 12:46 and Berezin made 2-0 at 17:54. Toronto has recorded two power-play goals in four of its past five games.
Joseph preserved his 21st career shutout and second this season by stopping Rob Zamuner from point-blank range early in the third period.
Todd Warriner added a third-period goal at 7:35 as the Maple Leafs moved into first place in the Northwest Division by one point over idle Ottawa.
The Maple Leafs are 47-0-5 since the start of last season when leading after two periods. Toronto has beaten the Lightning six straight times and is 9-1 all-time at Tampa Bay.
The Lightning, who have lost four straight games, have won just once (1-69-6) in the past 76 games when trailing after 40 minutes.
After Berezin's shot from the slot was blocked by Jassen Cullimore, Berard picked up the loose puck in the left circle and scored his sixth goal.
Berezin recorded his 17th goal from near the right post after a feed from behind the net by Igor Korolev, who finished with two assists.
Stephane Richer's apparent goal during a 2-on-1 at 13:43 of the second period was disallowed after a video review determined the Tampa Bay shot hit the post and did not cross the goal line.
Tampa Bay got off only one shot during 3:46 of consecutive power-play hockey in the first period.
The Lightning were without five regular defenseman -- Cory Cross (hip flexor), Petr Svoboda (groin), Kjell Samuelsson (hamstring), Mike McBain (bruised foot) and Drew Bannister (wrist) -- due to injuries. The six Tampa Bay defenseman who dressed entered with a combined 377 games of NHL experience.