GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: TORONTO (0-1) at OTTAWA (1-0)

NHL: TORONTO at OTTAWA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 2
OTTAWA 3 1:35 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at OTTAWA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 2
OTTAWA 3 0:15 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at OTTAWA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TORONTO 0 2 0 2
OTTAWA 1 1 1 3 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: OTT - DANIEL ALFREDSSON 2 (DANY HEATLEY, WADE REDDEN) 8:18
2ND PRD: OTT - (PP) DANY HEATLEY 3 (JASON SPEZZA, PATRICK EAVES)
13:06
TOR - MATS SUNDIN 1 (JASON BLAKE, HAL GILL) 15:44
TOR - MATT STAJAN 2 (ALEX STEEN) 16:16
3RD PRD: OTT - (PP) DANIEL ALFREDSSON 3 (JASON SPEZZA, WADE REDDEN)
15:01

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: TOR - 0 OF 7, OTT - 2 OF 10.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TOR 13 19 11 43
OTT 7 10 12 29

GOALIES: TOR - VESA TOSKALA
OTT - MARTIN GERBER

OFFICIALS: REF - CHRIS ROONEY, ERIC FURLATT
LIN - BRIAN MACH, GREG DEVORSKI

ATT: 19,857</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at OTTAWA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Toronto 0 2 0 --2
Ottawa 1 1 1 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson 2 (Dany Heatley,
Wade Redden), 8:18. Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (hooking), 3:03; A
Volchenkov, Ott (hooking), 8:55; J Blake, Tor (hooking), 9:03; W
Redden, Ott (roughing), 10:30; D Alfredsson, Ott (hooking), 13:37; C
Kilger, Tor (high sticking), 15:17; J Blake, Tor (hooking), 17:07.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Ottawa, Dany Heatley 3 (power play) (Jason
Spezza, Patrick Eaves), 13:06. 3, Toronto, Mats Sundin 1 (Jason Blake,
Hal Gill), 15:44. 4, Toronto, Matt Stajan 2 (Alex Steen), 16:16.
Penalties: W Redden, Ott (unsportsmanlike cond), 1:39; A Steen, Tor
(holding), 7:34; I White, Tor (roughing), 11:00; A Steen, Tor
(roughing), 11:00; N Foligno, Ott (roughing), 11:00; M Fisher, Ott
(roughing), 11:00; J Pohl, Tor (roughing), 11:52; A Ponikarovsky, Tor
(tripping), 15:47; C Neil, Ott (diving), 15:47; C Neil, Ott
(tripping), 18:32.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson 3 (power play)
(Jason Spezza, Wade Redden), 15:01. Penalties: A Wozniewski, Tor
(slashing), 4:48; - Bench, Ott (too many men served by P Eaves),
11:12; N Antropov, Tor (holding), 11:21; P Kubina, Tor (tripping),
12:38; C Kilger, Tor (holding), 14:45.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Toronto 13 19 11 --43
Ottawa 7 10 12 --29
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Toronto - 0 of 7, Ottawa - 2 of 10. Goalies :
Toronto, Vesa Toskala (29 shots, 26 saves; record: 0-1-0). Ottawa,
Martin Gerber (43 shots, 41 saves; record: 2-0-0). A: 19,857.
Referees: Chris Rooney, Eric Furlatt. Linesmen: Brian Mach, Greg
Devorski.</div>

 

By Bill Carroll
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


OTTAWA (Ticker) -- Daniel Alfredsson scored two goals, includingthe go-ahead tally with 4:59 remaining in the third period, andDany Heatley added a goal and an assist to power the OttawaSenators to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs onThursday.


With the game tied at 2-2 and Ottawa on the power play, theSenators captain wristed a shot from the left faceoff circlethat sailed over the right shoulder of goaltender Vesa Toskalato break the deadlock.


Alfredsson opened the scoring at 8:18 of the first period, whenhe wristed a shot high to the glove side of Toskala, who madehis first start as a Maple Leaf. Heatley, who signed asix-year, $45 million contract Wednesday, sent a cross-slot passto Alfredsson, who buried the puck from the right circle.

At 13:06 of the second period, Heatley redirected center JasonSpezza's centering pass with his right skate, although Toskalaappeared to kick away the puck with his left pad. Playcontinued for another 67 seconds before Ottawa asked for areview, which confirmed that the puck clearly had crossed thegoal line, increasing the lead to 2-0.


Finding the net is nothing new for Heatley against Toronto, asthe 26-year-old has netted 23 vs. Ottawa's provincial rival. Inthis home-and-home stretch to open the season against the MapleLeafs, Heatley already has notched five points.


Toronto promptly replied with two goals to even the contest.

Defenseman Hal Gill sent a floater from the left point that wasknocked down into the crease by Jason Blake. Sundin slid thepuck past Martin Gerber before the goalie was able to corral itat 15:44.


The goal was the 389th as a Maple Leaf for Sundin, tying himwith Darryl Sittler for first place on the franchise list.

Matt Stajan posted his second tally in as many games just 32seconds later. After backhanding the puck out of mid-air offthe right post and through the crease, Stajan circled the netand slid it by Gerber for the equalizer.


Playing in place of the injured Ray Emery, Martin Gerber made 41saves for Ottawa in improving to 16-0-2 in his last 18 starts.

Gerber's best save of the night came during a penalty kill threeminutes into the second period, when he deftly caught aredirection from the slot by Toronto captain Mats Sundin.

Toskala was equal to the task as he robbed Ottawa rookie NickFoligno as he lay prone by the left goalpost with nine minutesleft in the middle session.

 

NHL: TORONTO at OTTAWA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Toronto 0 2 0 --2
Ottawa 1 1 1 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson 2 (Dany Heatley,
Wade Redden), 8:18. Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (hooking), 3:03; A
Volchenkov, Ott (hooking), 8:55; J Blake, Tor (hooking), 9:03; W
Redden, Ott (roughing), 10:30; D Alfredsson, Ott (hooking), 13:37; C
Kilger, Tor (high sticking), 15:17; J Blake, Tor (hooking), 17:07.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Ottawa, Dany Heatley 3 (power play) (Jason
Spezza, Patrick Eaves), 13:06. 3, Toronto, Mats Sundin 1 (Jason Blake,
Hal Gill), 15:44. 4, Toronto, Matt Stajan 2 (Alex Steen), 16:16.
Penalties: W Redden, Ott (double minor unsportsmanlike cond, hooking),
1:39; A Steen, Tor (holding), 7:34; I White, Tor (roughing), 11:00; A
Steen, Tor (roughing), 11:00; M Fisher, Ott (roughing), 11:00; N
Foligno, Ott (roughing), 11:00; J Pohl, Tor (roughing), 11:52; A
Ponikarovsky, Tor (tripping), 15:47; C Neil, Ott (diving), 15:47; C
Neil, Ott (tripping), 18:32.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson 3 (power play)
(Jason Spezza, Wade Redden), 15:01. Penalties: A Wozniewski, Tor
(slashing), 4:48; - Bench, Ott (too many men served by P Eaves),
11:12; N Antropov, Tor (holding), 11:21; P Kubina, Tor (tripping),
12:38; C Kilger, Tor (holding), 14:45.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Toronto 13 19 11 --43
Ottawa 7 10 12 --29
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Toronto - 0 of 7, Ottawa - 2 of 10. Goalies :
Toronto, Vesa Toskala (29 shots, 26 saves; record: 0-1-0). Ottawa,
Martin Gerber (43 shots, 41 saves; record: 2-0-0). A: 19,857.
Referees: Chris Rooney, Eric Furlatt. Linesmen: Brian Mach, Greg
Devorski.</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at OTTAWA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
TORONTO 0 2 0 --2
OTTAWA 1 1 1 --3
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson 2 (Dany Heatley,
Wade Redden), 8:18. Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (hooking), 3:03; A
Volchenkov, Ott (hooking), 8:55; J Blake, Tor (hooking), 9:03; W
Redden, Ott (roughing), 10:30; D Alfredsson, Ott (hooking), 13:37; C
Kilger, Tor (high sticking), 15:17; J Blake, Tor (hooking), 17:07.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Ottawa, Dany Heatley 3 (power play) (Jason
Spezza, Patrick Eaves), 13:06. 3, Toronto, Mats Sundin 1 (Jason Blake,
Hal Gill), 15:44. 4, Toronto, Matt Stajan 2 (Alex Steen), 16:16.
Penalties: W Redden, Ott (double minor unsportsmanlike cond, hooking),
1:39; A Steen, Tor (holding), 7:34; I White, Tor (roughing), 11:00; A
Steen, Tor (roughing), 11:00; M Fisher, Ott (roughing), 11:00; N
Foligno, Ott (roughing), 11:00; J Pohl, Tor (roughing), 11:52; A
Ponikarovsky, Tor (tripping), 15:47; C Neil, Ott (diving), 15:47; C
Neil, Ott (tripping), 18:32.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson 3 (power play)
(Jason Spezza, Wade Redden), 15:01. Penalties: A Wozniewski, Tor
(slashing), 4:48; - Bench, Ott (too many men served by P Eaves),
11:12; N Antropov, Tor (holding), 11:21; P Kubina, Tor (tripping),
12:38; C Kilger, Tor (holding), 14:45.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
TORONTO 13 19 11 --43
OTTAWA 7 10 12 --29
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: TOR - 0 of 7, OTT - 2 of 10. Goalies :
Toronto, Vesa Toskala (29 shots, 26 saves; record: 0-1-0). Ottawa,
Martin Gerber (43 shots, 41 saves; record: 2-0-0). A: 19,857.
Referees: Chris Rooney, Eric Furlatt. Linesmen: Brian Mach, Greg
Devorski.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

TORONTO OTTAWA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
A Steen 0 1 +1 5 S Donovan 0 0 even 1
M Sundin 1 0 +1 8 D Alfredsson 2 0 -1 6
M Stajan 1 0 +1 4 M Fisher 0 0 even 0
T Kaberle 0 0 even 3 A Meszaros 0 0 even 0
D Tucker 0 0 -1 2 D Heatley 1 1 even 3
C Kilger 0 0 -1 0 B McGrattan 0 0 even 0
J Pohl 0 0 -1 0 J Spezza 0 2 -1 4
B Devereaux 0 0 even 4 A Vermette 0 0 even 3
A Ponikarovsky 0 0 even 3 C Kelly 0 0 even 1
B McCabe 0 0 +1 3 A Volchenkov 0 0 -1 1
H Gill 0 1 even 1 C Neil 0 0 even 2
P Kubina 0 0 even 2 J Hennessy 0 0 even 0
B Battaglia 0 0 even 0 C Phillips 0 0 -1 0
K Newbury 0 0 even 0 P Eaves 0 1 even 1
J Blake 0 1 +1 4 C Schubert 0 0 even 1
A Wozniewski 0 0 even 2 W Redden 0 2 even 2
I White 0 0 +1 1 J Corvo 0 0 even 3
N Antropov 0 0 +1 1 N Foligno 0 0 even 1
W Belak HEALTHY L Richardson HEALTHY
A Stralman HEALTHY R Emery WRIST INJURY</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at OTTAWA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
TORONTO 2
OTTAWA 3</div>

 

By Bill Carroll
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


OTTAWA (Ticker) -- Daniel Alfredsson scored two goals, includingthe go-ahead tally with 4:59 remaining in the third period, andDany Heatley added a goal and an assist to power the OttawaSenators to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs onThursday.


With the game tied at 2-2 and Ottawa on the power play, theSenators captain wristed a shot from the left faceoff circlethat sailed over the right shoulder of goaltender Vesa Toskalato break the deadlock.


Alfredsson opened the scoring at 8:18 of the first period, whenhe wristed a shot high to the glove side of Toskala, who madehis first start as a Maple Leaf. Heatley, who signed asix-year, $45 million contract Wednesday, sent a cross-slot passto Alfredsson, who buried the puck from the right circle.

Alfredsson's game-winner was the 50th of his career.

"I tried to get into position for a one-timer, but I got it onmy backhand," Alfredsson said. "We were 2-on-1 in front, sowhen we pulled out, their defense had to make a decision, and hewent down and covered Dany. I didn't have much to shoot at,but I was able to fit it in the corner."


At 13:06 of the second period, Heatley redirected center JasonSpezza's centering pass with his right skate, although Toskalaappeared to kick away the puck with his left pad. Playcontinued for another 67 seconds before Ottawa asked for areview, which confirmed that the puck clearly had crossed thegoal line, increasing the lead to 2-0.


"I thought it might have gone in," Heatley said. "I didn't seeit cross the line, but because his pad was so far in the net, Ithought it had a chance. We'll take it. I wasn't surprised,but I was more concerned they might call it a kick. I waspretty confident I had just directed it in. That's legal now,so we'll count it."


Finding the net is nothing new for Heatley against Toronto, asthe 26-year-old has netted 23 vs. Ottawa's provincial rival. Inthis home-and-home stretch to open the season against the MapleLeafs, Heatley already has notched five points.


Toronto promptly replied with two goals to even the contest.

Defenseman Hal Gill sent a floater from the left point that wasknocked down into the crease by Jason Blake. Sundin slid thepuck past Martin Gerber before the goalie was able to corral itat 15:44.


The goal was the 389th as a Maple Leaf for Sundin, tying himwith Darryl Sittler for first place on the franchise list.

"I'll take a goal any time," Sundin said. "Obviously, I wouldhave preferred to score at home. It's better it's done earlyand out of the way. The last thing we need is distractions ifwe want to go forward and win some hockey games."


Matt Stajan posted his second tally in as many games just 32seconds later. After backhanding the puck out of mid-air offthe right post and through the crease, Stajan circled the netand slid it by Gerber for the equalizer.


Playing in place of the injured Ray Emery, Martin Gerber made 41saves for Ottawa in improving to 16-0-2 in his last 18 starts.

Gerber's best save of the night came during a penalty kill threeminutes into the second period, when he deftly caught aredirection from the slot by Toronto captain Mats Sundin.

"(Toronto) had some momentum in the second where they got acouple of weird bounces," Gerber said. "Toronto's always toughbecause they put a lot of pucks at the net. They try to getdeflections and screen shots, so that's the hardest thing aboutthem."


Toskala was equal to the task in his debut with Toronto as herobbed Ottawa rookie Nick Foligno as he lay prone by the leftgoalpost with nine minutes left in the middle session.

"None of the goals he really could have done anything about,really," Sundin said of Toskala. "He made a couple of greatsaves where Ottawa maybe should have had a goal. I thought hehad a strong game."


Toronto had a goal disallowed by referee Chris Rooney midwaythrough the game, which would have forged a 1-1 tie. Blakestormed down the right side before firing the puck at Gerber,and Alex Steen then poked it over the goal line as Blake stoodover the goaltender.


"I don't understand what happened there," Blake said. "I sawGerber going low, so I tried to beat him high. Gerber made agood save and I was just trying to get out of the way. I don'tknow why they disallowed the goal."


"The referee didn't tell me anything about the play, but the wayI saw it was, (Blake) went for it and kept going," Gerber said."He pushed at me, so it was the right call."


Ottawa went 2-for-10 on the power play, while Toronto finished0-for-7.


"It's still not quite there yet," Alfredsson said of Ottawa'sspecial teams. "Our penalty-killing is getting better andbetter every year."