Sean Avery's Ghost Haunts Rangers-Leafs Game Tonight

Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs lost an emotional game at home on Hockey Day In Canada, broadcast on Hockey Night In Canada. The ACC, home of the Maple Leafs, witnessed a storybook ending to their game last night as former captain Mats Sundin returned with his new team, the Vancouver Canucks, and scored the winning goal in the shootout.

The New York Rangers captain returned to play against the Buffalo Sabres last night, but there was no storybook ending for Chris Drury. The Leafs lost, 3-2, and the Rangers lost, 4-2.

The Leafs are rebuilding this year but have not replaced their superstar Sundin. Leafs' coaches insist they are not in the John Tavares sweepstakes, so they do not want to finish last to get the first pick in the Entry Draft, even though it looks like he will be the rookie of the year n ext year.

The Leafs are fourth last, overall, but have won some big games and looked like they would defeat the Canucks last night.

The Rangers are rebuilt and got off to a great start this season, going 10 and 2, but recently lost 10-2 to the Dallas Stars in a mid-season slump that has them skidding out of play-off contention.

The Rangers lost Jagr, Shanahan, and Avery, last year, and critics say they are playing with their New Yorker spirit, spine, and spleen.
Sean Avery is making a comeback with the Rangers affiliate in the AHL, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Last night he got his first penalty and point in four games. He assisted on the game winning goal in overtime.

So, tonight it will be the talent-rich but underachieving Rangers versus the young and overachieving Leafs, and both teams must be thinking about claiming Sean Avery. The Rangers need a sparkplug and the Leafs could use a hometown hero.

It would be a storybook evening if the Rangers revealed Sean Avery was in their lineup, again, and the hockey player from Toronto inspired them to beat the team from his old hometown.

Avery did not play for three months, while he was in anger management, after being suspended by the NHL, and has played just four games in the AHL, with the goal of getting into game shape for the Rangers. Even Mats Sundin needed several games before he hit his stride with the Canucks when he returned to the NHL earlier this season.

The Rangers will be looking for a win to stop their skid, keep their coach, and keep their play-off dreams alive. The Leafs will not be looking for a loss to keep alive their plans for next year.