GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: TORONTO (8-17) at ATLANTA (11-12)

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TORONTO 2 1 3
ATLANTA 0 1 1 END OF THE 2ND

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: TOR - ANDY WOZNIEWSKI 2 (JASON BLAKE, NIK ANTROPOV) 14:40
TOR - ALEX STEEN 4 (KYLE WELLWOOD, HAL GILL) 19:56
2ND PRD: TOR - MATS SUNDIN 13 (NIK ANTROPOV, MARK BELL) 15:18
ATL - ILYA KOVALCHUK 20 (NICLAS HAVELID) 16:20

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TOR 9 9 18
ATL 5 8 13

GOALIES: TOR - VESA TOSKALA
ATL - JOHAN HEDBERG</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

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

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Andy Wozniewski 2 (Jason Blake,
Nik Antropov), 14:40. 2, Toronto, Alex Steen 4 (Kyle Wellwood, Hal
Gill), 19:56. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 7:52; B Holik, Atl
(high sticking), 11:56; T Kaberle, Tor (interference), 15:24.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toronto, Mats Sundin 13 (Nik Antropov, Mark
Bell), 15:18. 4, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 20 (Niclas Havelid), 16:20.
Penalties: E Boulton, Atl (), 3:30; W Belak, Tor (major fighting),
13:30.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Toronto 9 9 --18
Atlanta 5 8 --13
----------------------------------

Goalies : Toronto, Vesa Toskala (13 shots, 12 saves). Atlanta, Johan
Hedberg (18 shots, 15 saves). Referees: Dave Jackson, Stephane Auger.
Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Lyle Seitz.</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 3
ATLANTA 1 19:58 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 3
ATLANTA 1 16:15 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 4
ATLANTA 1
3RD PRD: TOR - MATT STAJAN 5 (BOYD DEVEREAUX, HAL GILL) 6:04</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 4
ATLANTA 1 5:50 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 4
ATLANTA 2
3RD PRD: ATL - (PP) TOBIAS ENSTROM 3 (MARIAN HOSSA, DARREN HAYDAR)
12:33</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 4
ATLANTA 2 6:21 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 4
ATLANTA 2 2:38 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 4
ATLANTA 2 1:14 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TORONTO 2 1 1 4
ATLANTA 0 1 1 2 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: TOR - ANDY WOZNIEWSKI 2 (JASON BLAKE, NIK ANTROPOV) 14:40
TOR - ALEX STEEN 4 (KYLE WELLWOOD, HAL GILL) 19:56
2ND PRD: TOR - MATS SUNDIN 13 (NIK ANTROPOV, MARK BELL) 15:18
ATL - ILYA KOVALCHUK 20 (NICLAS HAVELID) 16:20
3RD PRD: TOR - MATT STAJAN 5 (BOYD DEVEREAUX, HAL GILL) 6:04
ATL - (PP) TOBIAS ENSTROM 3 (MARIAN HOSSA, DARREN HAYDAR)
12:33

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: TOR - 0 OF 1, ATL - 1 OF 3.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TOR 9 9 7 25
ATL 5 8 6 19

GOALIES: TOR - VESA TOSKALA
ATL - JOHAN HEDBERG

OFFICIALS: REF - DAVE JACKSON, STEPHANE AUGER
LIN - ANTHONY SERICOLO, LYLE SEITZ

ATT: NA</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Toronto 2 1 1 --4
Atlanta 0 1 1 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Andy Wozniewski 2 (Jason Blake,
Nik Antropov), 14:40. 2, Toronto, Alex Steen 4 (Kyle Wellwood, Hal
Gill), 19:56. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 7:52; B Holik, Atl
(high sticking), 11:56; T Kaberle, Tor (interference), 15:24.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toronto, Mats Sundin 13 (Nik Antropov, Mark
Bell), 15:18. 4, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 20 (Niclas Havelid), 16:20.
Penalties: E Boulton, Atl (), 3:30; W Belak, Tor (major fighting),
13:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Matt Stajan 5 (Boyd Devereaux, Hal
Gill), 6:04. 6, Atlanta, Tobias Enstrom 3 (power play) (Marian Hossa,
Darren Haydar), 12:33. Penalties: M Bell, Tor (tripping), 11:43.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Toronto 9 9 7 --25
Atlanta 5 8 6 --19
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Toronto - 0 of 1, Atlanta - 1 of 3. Goalies :
Toronto, Vesa Toskala (19 shots, 17 saves; record: 7-8-3). Atlanta,
Johan Hedberg (25 shots, 21 saves; record: 8-6-0). A: NA. Referees:
Dave Jackson, Stephane Auger. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Lyle Seitz.</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
TORONTO 4
ATLANTA 2</div>

 

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Maybe the puck finally has started bouncingthe Toronto Maple Leafs' way.


Defenseman Andrew Wozniewski opened the scoring with a bizarregoal and Vesa Toskala turned aside 18 shots to give the MapleLeafs a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday.

Wozniewski's wide-angle shot from the left faceoff circledeflected off Atlanta defenseman Niclas Havelid and bounced offthe glass behind the net. The puck took a fortuitous bouncetoward the top of the net, where it was partially deflected bygoaltender Johan Hedberg's blocker.


But Hedberg's move altered the puck's direction, and it trickleddown the middle of the top of the net, off his back and in fora 1-0 lead.


The lucky goal at 14:10 of the first period provided along-needed boost to the hard-luck Maple Leafs, who had lostfour straight and seven of eight entering Thursday and lead theleague with six overtime losses.


From there, Toronto rolled.


Kyle Wellwood found Alex Steen, who blasted a slap shot from theright faceoff circle past Hedberg to give the Maple Leafs a 2-0edge with 3.6 seconds remaining in the first. Hedbergpartially stopped the puck with his left pad before it trickledover his leg and into the net.


Captain Mats Sundin followed with his 13th goal of the season,beating Hedberg with a pretty backhander from the left circlewith 4:42 left in the second period.


An Atlanta turnover at the blue line led to Toronto's fourthgoal of the night, as Boyd Devereaux led a 3-on-2 rush down theice and fed Matt Stajan, whose one-timer from above the leftcircle beat Hedberg 6:04 into the third period.


Entering Wednesday, the Maple Leafs had struggled against theThrashers, losing four straight and trailing in the all-timeseries, 16-7-3.


But Toskala made sure the futility ended, stopping five shots inthe first, seven in the second and six in the third en route tohis seventh victory of the season.


Conversely, the Thrashers - who had won 10 of 15 since capturingtheir second game of the season against the Maple Leafs onOctober 23 - have been struggling of late.


The high-flying club, which boasts superstar forwards IlyaKovalchuk and Marian Hossa, was outscored by the New JerseyDevils and Pittsburgh Penguins by a combined 8-0 margin over theprevious two games.


Opposing clubs netted 11 unanswered goals and shut out Atlantafor seven consecutive periods before Kovalchuk, the NHL'sleading goal-scorer, tallied his 20th of the season on a wristerfrom above the left circle with 3:40 left in the second period.

The goal cut the deficit to 3-1 and snapped a streak ofoffensive futility that lasted 166 minutes, 32 seconds.

Hedberg stopped 21 shots en route to his second straight loss.

Rookie defenseman Tobias Enstrom added a power-play goal in thethird period for Atlanta, which was outshot, 25-20.

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Toronto 2 1 1 --4
Atlanta 0 1 1 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Andy Wozniewski 2 (Jason Blake,
Nik Antropov), 14:40. 2, Toronto, Alex Steen 4 (Kyle Wellwood, Hal
Gill), 19:56. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 7:52; B Holik, Atl
(high sticking), 11:56; T Kaberle, Tor (interference), 15:24.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toronto, Mats Sundin 13 (Nik Antropov, Mark
Bell), 15:18. 4, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 20 (Niclas Havelid), 16:20.
Penalties: W Belak, Tor (major fighting), 3:30; E Boulton, Atl (),
3:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Matt Stajan 5 (Boyd Devereaux, Hal
Gill), 6:04. 6, Atlanta, Tobias Enstrom 3 (power play) (Marian Hossa,
Darren Haydar), 12:33. Penalties: M Bell, Tor (tripping), 11:43.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Toronto 9 9 7 --25
Atlanta 5 8 7 --20
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Toronto - 0 of 1, Atlanta - 1 of 3. Goalies :
Toronto, Vesa Toskala (20 shots, 18 saves; record: 7-8-3). Atlanta,
Johan Hedberg (25 shots, 21 saves; record: 8-6-0). A: 14,031.
Referees: Dave Jackson, Stephane Auger. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo,
Lyle Seitz.</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
TORONTO 2 1 1 --4
ATLANTA 0 1 1 --2
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Andy Wozniewski 2 (Jason Blake,
Nik Antropov), 14:40. 2, Toronto, Alex Steen 4 (Kyle Wellwood, Hal
Gill), 19:56. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 7:52; B Holik, Atl
(high sticking), 11:56; T Kaberle, Tor (interference), 15:24.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toronto, Mats Sundin 13 (Nik Antropov, Mark
Bell), 15:18. 4, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 20 (Niclas Havelid), 16:20.
Penalties: W Belak, Tor (major fighting), 3:30; E Boulton, Atl (),
3:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Matt Stajan 5 (Boyd Devereaux, Hal
Gill), 6:04. 6, Atlanta, Tobias Enstrom 3 (power play) (Marian Hossa,
Darren Haydar), 12:33. Penalties: M Bell, Tor (tripping), 11:43.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
TORONTO 9 9 7 --25
ATLANTA 5 8 7 --20
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: TOR - 0 of 1, ATL - 1 of 3. Goalies : Toronto,
Vesa Toskala (20 shots, 18 saves; record: 7-8-3). Atlanta, Johan
Hedberg (25 shots, 21 saves; record: 8-6-0). A: 14,031. Referees:
Dave Jackson, Stephane Auger. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Lyle Seitz.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

TORONTO ATLANTA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
A Steen 1 0 +1 2 B Little 0 0 -1 1
M Sundin 1 0 +1 4 E Perrin 0 0 -1 0
M Stajan 1 0 even 1 T White 0 0 -2 0
T Kaberle 0 0 +1 1 V Kozlov 0 0 even 1
D Tucker 0 0 even 1 B Holik 0 0 -1 1
C Kilger 0 0 even 2 I Kovalchuk 1 0 -2 1
J Pohl 0 0 even 0 M Hossa 0 1 -1 6
B Devereaux 0 1 +1 0 G Exelby 0 0 -1 0
B McCabe 0 0 +1 1 K Klee 0 0 even 0
H Gill 0 2 +1 2 J Slater 0 0 even 0
W Belak 0 0 even 1 C Thorburn 0 0 even 0
K Wellwood 0 1 +1 1 N Havelid 0 1 -2 0
J Blake 0 1 +1 5 E Boulton 0 0 even 1
A Wozniewski 1 0 +1 1 D Haydar 0 1 even 2
I White 0 0 +2 1 T Enstrom 1 0 -1 2
N Antropov 0 2 +2 0 M Popovic 0 0 -1 1
M Bell 0 1 +2 2 A Zhitnik 0 0 -1 1
S Kronwall 0 0 even 0 P Dupuis 0 0 -1 3
B Battaglia HEALTHY S McCarthy HEALTHY
P Kubina HEALTHY B Larsen HEALTHY
A Ponikarovsky MUSCLE SPASMS
J Tlusty LEG INJURY</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
TORONTO 4
ATLANTA 2</div>

 

By Phil Foley
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Maybe the puck finally has started bouncingthe Toronto Maple Leafs' way.


Defenseman Andrew Wozniewski opened the scoring with a bizarregoal and Vesa Toskala turned aside 18 shots to give the MapleLeafs a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday.

Wozniewski's wide-angle shot from the left faceoff circledeflected off Atlanta defenseman Niclas Havelid and bounced offthe glass behind the net. The puck took a fortuitous bouncetoward the top of the net, where it was partially deflected bygoaltender Johan Hedberg's blocker.


But Hedberg's move altered the puck's direction, and it trickleddown the middle of the top of the net, off his back and in fora 1-0 lead.


"I don't think there was anything pretty about the first goal,"Toronto's Matt Stajan said. "But it was nice to get a first onelike that."


Hedberg claimed the puck was hit with a high stick and shouldnot have counted.


"For me, it was a high stick, when (Nik) Antropov knocked itover the net," Hedberg said. "He (hit) it with the stick. Iwas waiting for the high-stick (call)."


The lucky goal at 14:10 of the first period provided along-needed boost for the hard-luck Maple Leafs, who had lostfour straight and seven of eight entering Thursday and lead theleague with six overtime losses.


"We came out ready to play," Maple Leafs coach Paul Mauricesaid. "We had to win this game to get a good feeling, andhopefully, we can build on this one."


"I thought we came out strong," Toronto captain Mats Sundinadded. "We got the lead and played solid for most of thenight."


From there, Toronto rolled.


Kyle Wellwood found Alex Steen, who blasted a slap shot from theright faceoff circle past Hedberg to give the Maple Leafs a 2-0edge with 3.6 seconds remaining in the first. Hedbergpartially stopped the puck with his left pad before it trickledover his leg and into the net.


"The second goal was a backbreaker," Thrashers interim coach DonWaddell said. "You can't give up that goal in the last fewseconds of a period."


Sundin followed with his 13th goal of the season, beatingHedberg with a pretty backhander from the left circle with 4:42left in the second period.


"It was a 3-on-2 (break)," Sundin said. "(Antropov) managed tofind a hole between him and me. It was a great shot."

"Sundin made a good play on the goal," Hedberg admitted. "Theydropped it back and he shot it through another guy. We had afew unlucky breaks tonight, but that's how it goes."

Another turnover by Atlanta at Toronto's blue line led to theMaple Leafs' fourth goal of the night, as Boyd Devereaux led a3-on-2 rush down the ice and fed Stajan, whose one-timer fromabove the left circle beat Hedberg 6:04 into the third period.

"All the goals except for the first one can be traced back to amistake in the neutral zone," Waddell said. "The good thing is,these are things we can fix."


Entering Thursday, the Maple Leafs had struggled against theThrashers, losing four straight and trailing in the all-timeseries, 16-7-3.


"I think we have put a lot of pressure on ourselves," Steensaid. "We need to start turning this thing around. We want tobe a playoff team and want to play good hockey. We're going totry to get a winning streak started."


Toskala made sure the futility ended, stopping five shots in thefirst, seven in the second and six in the third en route to hisseventh victory of the season.


Conversely, the Thrashers - who had won 10 of 15 since capturingtheir second game of the season against the Maple Leafs onOctober 23 - have been struggling of late.


The high-flying club, which boasts superstar forwards IlyaKovalchuk and Marian Hossa, was outscored by the New JerseyDevils and Pittsburgh Penguins by a combined 8-0 margin over theprevious two games.


Opposing clubs netted 11 unanswered goals and shut out Atlantafor seven consecutive periods before Kovalchuk, the NHL'sleading goal-scorer, tallied his 20th of the season on a wristerfrom above the left circle with 3:40 left in the second period.

The tally cut the deficit to 3-1 and snapped a streak ofoffensive futility that lasted 166 minutes, 32 seconds.

"We win as a team, we lose as a team," Thrashers captain BobbyHolik said. "Tonight was not our best team effort. We don'tjust expect Kovalchuk to score. We expect all of us to score."

Hedberg stopped 21 shots en route to his second straight loss.

Rookie defenseman Tobias Enstrom added a power-play goal in thethird period for Atlanta, which was outshot, 25-20.

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Toronto 2 1 1 --4
Atlanta 0 1 1 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Andy Wozniewski 2 (Jason Blake,
Nik Antropov), 14:10. 2, Toronto, Alex Steen 4 (Kyle Wellwood, Hal
Gill), 19:56. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 7:52; B Holik, Atl
(high sticking), 11:56; T Kaberle, Tor (interference), 15:24.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toronto, Mats Sundin 13 (Nik Antropov, Mark
Bell), 15:18. 4, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 20 (Niclas Havelid), 16:20.
Penalties: W Belak, Tor (major fighting), 3:30; E Boulton, Atl (major
fighting), 3:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Matt Stajan 5 (Boyd Devereaux, Hal
Gill), 6:04. 6, Atlanta, Tobias Enstrom 3 (power play) (Marian Hossa,
Darren Haydar), 12:31. Penalties: M Bell, Tor (tripping), 11:43.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Toronto 9 9 7 --25
Atlanta 5 8 7 --20
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Toronto - 0 of 1, Atlanta - 1 of 3. Goalies :
Toronto, Vesa Toskala (20 shots, 18 saves; record: 7-8-3). Atlanta,
Johan Hedberg (25 shots, 21 saves; record: 8-6-0). A: 14,031.
Referees: Dave Jackson, Stephane Auger. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo,
Lyle Seitz.</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
TORONTO 2 1 1 --4
ATLANTA 0 1 1 --2
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Andy Wozniewski 2 (Jason Blake,
Nik Antropov), 14:10. 2, Toronto, Alex Steen 4 (Kyle Wellwood, Hal
Gill), 19:56. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 7:52; B Holik, Atl
(high sticking), 11:56; T Kaberle, Tor (interference), 15:24.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toronto, Mats Sundin 13 (Nik Antropov, Mark
Bell), 15:18. 4, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 20 (Niclas Havelid), 16:20.
Penalties: W Belak, Tor (major fighting), 3:30; E Boulton, Atl (major
fighting), 3:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Matt Stajan 5 (Boyd Devereaux, Hal
Gill), 6:04. 6, Atlanta, Tobias Enstrom 3 (power play) (Marian Hossa,
Darren Haydar), 12:31. Penalties: M Bell, Tor (tripping), 11:43.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
TORONTO 9 9 7 --25
ATLANTA 5 8 7 --20
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: TOR - 0 of 1, ATL - 1 of 3. Goalies : Toronto,
Vesa Toskala (20 shots, 18 saves; record: 7-8-3). Atlanta, Johan
Hedberg (25 shots, 21 saves; record: 8-6-0). A: 14,031. Referees:
Dave Jackson, Stephane Auger. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Lyle Seitz.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

TORONTO ATLANTA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
A Steen 1 0 +1 2 B Little 0 0 -1 1
M Sundin 1 0 +1 4 E Perrin 0 0 -1 0
M Stajan 1 0 even 1 T White 0 0 -2 0
T Kaberle 0 0 +1 1 V Kozlov 0 0 even 1
D Tucker 0 0 even 1 B Holik 0 0 -1 1
C Kilger 0 0 even 2 I Kovalchuk 1 0 -2 1
J Pohl 0 0 even 0 M Hossa 0 1 -1 6
B Devereaux 0 1 +1 0 G Exelby 0 0 -1 0
B McCabe 0 0 +1 1 K Klee 0 0 even 0
H Gill 0 2 +1 2 J Slater 0 0 even 0
W Belak 0 0 even 1 C Thorburn 0 0 even 0
K Wellwood 0 1 +1 1 N Havelid 0 1 -2 0
J Blake 0 1 +1 5 E Boulton 0 0 even 1
A Wozniewski 1 0 +1 1 D Haydar 0 1 even 2
I White 0 0 +2 1 T Enstrom 1 0 -1 2
N Antropov 0 2 +2 0 M Popovic 0 0 -1 1
M Bell 0 1 +2 2 A Zhitnik 0 0 -1 1
S Kronwall 0 0 even 0 P Dupuis 0 0 -1 3
B Battaglia HEALTHY S McCarthy HEALTHY
P Kubina HEALTHY B Larsen HEALTHY
A Ponikarovsky MUSCLE SPASMS
J Tlusty LEG INJURY</div>