Maple Leafs-Capitals: Mats Sundin Ties the Rocket in 3-2 Win

Tonight was audition night for a number of players on the Toronto Maple Leafs squad.  Watching high from above was Cliff Fletcher, the new Maple Leafs interim GM.  And the players responded in the best way possible.

With a win.

Now winners of four of their last five, the Maple Leafs have the heartbeat in the city pumping again, and it appears a new era certainly has begun in Leafs Nation.

Mats Sundin scored his 544th career goal, tying him with the great Maurice "Rocket" Richard, with 30 seconds left in the third period to lift his team to a 3-2 win over the Capitals.  The teams end their home and home tomorrow night with a tilt in Washington.

Kilger opened the scoring in the first period on a great cross ice pass from Anton Stralman.  Kilger merely had to turn his stick blade and tip the puck past a dazed Olaf Kolzig.  

Early in the second, Alexander Ovechkin notched his 38th goal of the campaign, with a quick, slick wrister.  It was also AO's 10th goal, in 10 career games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Late in the second period on a bit of a broken play, Alex Steen was able to lift the puck over Kolzig with a quick snapper that eluded the Capitals veteran goaltender, who was being pestered in the crease by a few people, including Toronto's Nik Antropov. 

Thirteen minutes into the third period, Alexander Semin absolutely undressed Vesa Toskala and slid it past the prone goalie to tie the game at two.

The sky was again falling on Leafs Nation, or so it would seem, but not this time.

With the game in its dying moments, Toronto got a great chance on a shot from Alex Steen, as the puck squirted free and Kolzig went to dive to cover the net, but the Leafs captain was able to slide it under Olie's arm and find the back of the net for his 21st of the season. 

One more goal will move Sundin past Maurice Richard for 24th all time in scoring history.

Game Notes

--If not for Vesa Toskala and Mats Sundin, this game could have certainly went the other way tonight.  Sundin was a leader on and off the ice.  He had an assist, was encouraging his teammates on the bench in the third period, and even scored the goal in the dying minutes of the game.  As for Toskala, he made several big saves, especially in the third period to ensure the Leafs still had a chance.

--Another strong game from Anton Stralman tonight.  This kid looks like he has the confidence of someone beyond his years.  Remember that while over in Sweden, Stralman played in a Division I men's league, so he is certainly used to the pressure, speed, and power of playing against grown men.

--It continues to amaze me, and likely many other people, as to why Andy Wozniewski continues to get playing time on this team.  He simply doesn't understand what it takes to be a defense man in this league.  He is unwilling to use his body, and is not very effective with his skating or skill.

--Overall, a decent game from the Leafs, as they now sit five points out of the final playoff spot.  I don't think that spot is completely out of reach.  There are, however, a  lot of teams to leap frog, but there still is a lot of time to do it. 

Thoughts on the Shakeup

There have been many blogs about the firing of John Ferguson Jr and the subsequent hiring of Cliff Fletcher.  I won't get into too much details about it, because there are many great writers on this site who have done a great job of it.  I will give my two cents on what I think the move means for the Leafs, in the short term, and long term.

I think Cliff Fletcher is the right man for the job, and I think the interim tag is the right thing to do.  Cliff has a contract that is 19 months in length, so he will oversee the team this season, clean it up, get them ready for the next GM.  When that new GM comes on board, Cliff will stay with the team, as a consultant and help that GM navigate his way through season one in a very crazy hockey market.  Cliff is a guy with Hall Of Fame credentials, and I trust him to make the moves that should help the Leafs in the short and long term

Also, I want to say farewell to John Ferguson Jr.  He was heavily scrutinized for virtually his entire time with the club.  He made several suspect moves, that's for sure.  However, I did have the pleasure of Meeting John during the Rookie/Prospects camp this past August, and he is a truly classy guy.  He is also a very bright hockey mind, and although he didn't really show it here, I feel he can be helpful to another team, in a scout, or advisory role. 

In hockey terms, the board at MLSE gave John Ferguson Jr a "Suicide Pass."  He was more or less set up to fail by the board and that is a shame for that to have happened to such a classy guy.  Unfortunately for John, he has lost his father, and his job in the past 12 months, and I feel for him.  He has taken it all with grace, and dignity.  He truly is a class act, and I wish him all the best in whatever it is he chooses to do in the future.

Little Leafs Fan's Dreams Come True

The Toronto Maple Leafs and TSN made a very special wish come true today for six-year- old Jordan Primeau.  Primeau is a courageous young boy who is battling lukemia and he got the surprise of a lifetime from TSN and his favorite team, the Maple Leafs.  He was told by James Duthie he was picked at random to have an interview on TSN about the Leafs.

What they didn't tell him until later in the day was that he would be going with his family to Toronto to attend tonight's game and meet some of the players.  Jordan got to meet his favorite player, Mats Sundin, before the morning skate and was presented with jerseys and photo opportunities.  Later on during the morning, he got a surprise from Alexander Ovechkin, who presented him with a stick.

During the morning skate, Leafs forward Matt Stajan took him out on the ice to skate around with the team.  One of his biggest wishes was to meet Jason Blake, someone who is also battling Lukemia.  During the morning skate, Jason brought Jordan on the ice, and was even passing the puck back and forth with him.

The video is up at www.tsn.ca and I encourage all of you to watch it, if you haven't seen it already.

It's been a pretty hectic month in Leafs Nation, and sometimes it takes a moment like this for us all to realize just how human these players are, and that it's just a game. There are more important things in the grand scheme. I wish Jordan all the best as he bravely fights this tough battle, and I hope all you Leafs Nation people will keep Jordan and his family in your thoughts.

Next up for the Toronto Maple Leafs is the second half of the home and home against the Caps tomorrow night in Washington.  Game time is 7:30, be sure to check here after the game for a complete recap.