GAME THREAD: NHL: NASHVILLE (13-11) at TORONTO (10-17)

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

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

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: TOR - NIK ANTROPOV 11 (HAL GILL, MATS SUNDIN) 0:28
2ND PRD: TOR - MATT STAJAN 6 (BOYD DEVEREAUX, TOMAS KABERLE) 1:34

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NAS 7 14 21
TOR 5 5 10

GOALIES: NAS - CHRIS MASON
TOR - VESA TOSKALA</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

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

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Nik Antropov 11 (Hal Gill, Mats
Sundin), 0:28. Penalties: J Arnott, Nas (holding), 1:20; B Mccabe,
Tor (holding), 7:41; N Antropov, Tor (high sticking), 13:27; A
Radulov, Nas (hooking), 14:47.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Toronto, Matt Stajan 6 (Boyd Devereaux,
Tomas Kaberle), 1:34. Penalties: H Gill, Tor (delay of game), 2:00; W
Belak, Tor (holding), 7:33; M Zidlicky, Nas (holding), 12:13; R Bonk,
Nas (boarding), 14:19.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Nashville 7 14 --21
Toronto 5 5 --10
----------------------------------

Goalies : Nashville, Chris Mason (10 shots, 8 saves). Toronto, Vesa
Toskala (21 shots, 21 saves). Referees: Bill Mccreary, Mick Mcgeough.
Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Thor Nelson.</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 0
TORONTO 2 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 0
TORONTO 3
3RD PRD: TOR - WADE BELAK 1 (CHAD KILGER, TOMAS KABERLE) 2:48</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 0
TORONTO 3 15:14 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 0
TORONTO 3 11:12 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 0
TORONTO 3 9:32 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 0
TORONTO 3 6:53 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 1
TORONTO 3
3RD PRD: NAS - SHEA WEBER 1 (UNASSISTED) 14:05</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 1
TORONTO 3 4:40 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 1
TORONTO 3 1:29 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

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

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: TOR - NIK ANTROPOV 11 (HAL GILL, MATS SUNDIN) 0:28
2ND PRD: TOR - MATT STAJAN 6 (BOYD DEVEREAUX, TOMAS KABERLE) 1:34
3RD PRD: TOR - WADE BELAK 1 (CHAD KILGER, TOMAS KABERLE) 2:48
NAS - SHEA WEBER 1 (UNASSISTED) 14:05

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: NAS - 0 OF 5, TOR - 0 OF 4.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NAS 7 14 14 35
TOR 5 5 5 15

GOALIES: NAS - CHRIS MASON
TOR - VESA TOSKALA

OFFICIALS: REF - BILL MCCREARY, MICK MCGEOUGH
LIN - LONNIE CAMERON, THOR NELSON

ATT: 19,400</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

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

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Nik Antropov 11 (Hal Gill, Mats
Sundin), 0:28. Penalties: J Arnott, Nas (holding), 1:20; B Mccabe,
Tor (holding), 7:41; N Antropov, Tor (high sticking), 13:27; A
Radulov, Nas (hooking), 14:47.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Toronto, Matt Stajan 6 (Boyd Devereaux,
Tomas Kaberle), 1:34. Penalties: H Gill, Tor (delay of game), 2:00; W
Belak, Tor (holding), 7:33; M Zidlicky, Nas (holding), 12:13; R Bonk,
Nas (boarding), 14:19.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toronto, Wade Belak 1 (Chad Kilger, Tomas
Kaberle), 2:48. 4, Nashville, Shea Weber 1 (Unassisted), 14:05.
Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (slashing), 9:26.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Nashville 7 14 14 --35
Toronto 5 5 5 --15
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Nashville - 0 of 5, Toronto - 0 of 4. Goalies
: Nashville, Chris Mason (15 shots, 12 saves; record: 7-10-2).
Toronto, Vesa Toskala (35 shots, 34 saves; record: 9-8-3). A: 19,400.
Referees: Bill Mccreary, Mick Mcgeough. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Thor
Nelson.</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
NASHVILLE 1
TORONTO 3</div>

 

By Jeff Lieberman
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


TORONTO (Ticker) - The Toronto Maple Leafs did not have manyopportunities Tuesday night, but they made the most of the onesthey had - and Vesa Toskala did the rest.


Toskala made 34 saves and Wade Belak scored his first goal innearly four years to lead the Maple Leafs to their thirdconsecutive victory, a 3-1 triumph over the Nashville Predators.

Nik Antropov and Matt Stajan also tallied for Toronto, which hasnot enjoyed a three-game winning streak since it won fivestraight from January 27-February 6.


Toskala came just under six minutes shy of his second careershutout when defenseman Shea Weber's shot defected off the stickof Maple Leafs blue-liner Tomas Kaberle and past the netminder,closing the deficit to 3-1 with 5:55 remaining.


The 30-year-old Toskala has led the way during the recentstretch in which the team has not lost in regulation in overfour games (3-0-1).


He made seven saves in the first period, 14 in the next, and 13more in the third.


The Maple Leafs wasted little time getting on the scoresheetwhen Antropov scored his 11th goal of the season just 28 secondsinto the contest. Defenseman Hal Gill's shot from the rightpoint was blocked, but the puck bounced to Antropov, who fired aquick shot into the open net.


Captain Mats Sundin extended his franchise-best homepoint-scoring streak to start the season to 16 games with anassist on the goal. He has amassed 25 points during thatstretch.


Toronto doubled its advantage at 1:34 of the second period onStajan's impressive tally. Stajan batted the puck out ofmid-air with a backhand into the top corner of the net to take a2-0 edge.


After Chad Kilger's blast from the blue line hit Predatorsdefenseman Greg Zanon, Belak tucked in his first goal of theseason from the right of the crease to give the Maple Leafs a3-0 lead just 2:48 into the final session.


Belak, who has eight career goals, had not scored in hisprevious 143 contests. The 10-year veteran's last tally came onDecember 20, 2003.


Kaberle had two assists, giving him 302 in his eight-year career- all spent with the Maple Leafs - and tying him for thirdall-time among Toronto defensemen.


Predators goaltender Chris Mason faced just five shots in eachperiod. The 15 shots were the fewest by Toronto and fewestallowed by Nashville this season.


Nashville suffered its first loss to an Eastern Conferenceopponent this season in five games.

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

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

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Nik Antropov 11 (Hal Gill, Mats
Sundin), 0:28. Penalties: J Arnott, Nas (holding), 1:19; B Mccabe,
Tor (holding), 7:41; N Antropov, Tor (high sticking), 13:27; A
Radulov, Nas (hooking), 14:47.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Toronto, Matt Stajan 6 (Boyd Devereaux,
Tomas Kaberle), 1:34. Penalties: H Gill, Tor (delay of game), 2:00; W
Belak, Tor (holding), 7:33; M Zidlicky, Nas (hooking), 12:13; R Bonk,
Nas (boarding), 14:19.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toronto, Wade Belak 1 (Chad Kilger, Tomas
Kaberle), 2:48. 4, Nashville, Shea Weber 1 (Unassisted), 14:05.
Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (slashing), 9:26.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Nashville 7 14 14 --35
Toronto 5 5 5 --15
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Nashville - 0 of 5, Toronto - 0 of 4. Goalies
: Nashville, Chris Mason (15 shots, 12 saves; record: 7-10-2).
Toronto, Vesa Toskala (35 shots, 34 saves; record: 9-8-3). A: 19,400.
Referees: Bill Mccreary, Mick Mcgeough. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Thor
Nelson.</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at TORONTO

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

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Toronto, Nik Antropov 11 (Hal Gill, Mats
Sundin), 0:28. Penalties: J Arnott, Nas (holding), 1:19; B Mccabe,
Tor (holding), 7:41; N Antropov, Tor (high sticking), 13:27; A
Radulov, Nas (hooking), 14:47.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Toronto, Matt Stajan 6 (Boyd Devereaux,
Tomas Kaberle), 1:34. Penalties: H Gill, Tor (delay of game), 2:00; W
Belak, Tor (holding), 7:33; M Zidlicky, Nas (hooking), 12:13; R Bonk,
Nas (boarding), 14:19.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Toronto, Wade Belak 1 (Chad Kilger, Tomas
Kaberle), 2:48. 4, Nashville, Shea Weber 1 (Unassisted), 14:05.
Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (slashing), 9:26.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
NASHVILLE 7 14 14 --35
TORONTO 5 5 5 --15
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: NAS - 0 of 5, TOR - 0 of 4. Goalies :
Nashville, Chris Mason (15 shots, 12 saves; record: 7-10-2). Toronto,
Vesa Toskala (35 shots, 34 saves; record: 9-8-3). A: 19,400.
Referees: Bill Mccreary, Mick Mcgeough. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Thor
Nelson.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

NASHVILLE TORONTO
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Erat 0 0 -1 2 A Steen 0 0 even 1
D Legwand 0 0 even 2 M Sundin 0 1 +1 0
R Bonk 0 0 -1 1 M Stajan 1 0 even 2
D Hordichuk 0 0 -1 0 T Kaberle 0 2 +1 2
J Arnott 0 0 -1 12 D Tucker 0 0 even 1
D Hamhuis 0 0 -1 2 C Kilger 0 1 +1 0
R Suter 0 0 even 0 B Devereaux 0 1 even 1
J Tootoo 0 0 -1 3 A Ponikarovsky 0 0 +1 2
M Gelinas 0 0 even 1 B McCabe 0 0 even 2
J Smithson 0 0 even 0 H Gill 0 1 +1 1
M Zidlicky 0 0 even 1 W Belak 1 0 +1 1
V Koistinen 0 0 +1 1 K Wellwood 0 0 even 0
J Ortmeyer 0 0 even 3 J Blake 0 0 even 1
A Radulov 0 0 even 2 A Wozniewski 0 0 +1 0
G Zanon 0 0 -2 0 I White 0 0 +1 0
S Weber 1 0 -1 3 N Antropov 1 0 +1 1
G de Vries 0 0 -1 1 M Bell 0 0 +1 0
J Dumont 0 0 -1 1 S Kronwall 0 0 even 0
S Nichol HEALTHY B Battaglia HEALTHY
V Fiddler GROIN J Pohl HEALTHY
K Klein HEALTHY J Tlusty SHOULDER</div>

 

By Jeff Lieberman
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


TORONTO (Ticker) - The Toronto Maple Leafs made the most of thefew opportunities they had Tuesday night - and Vesa Toskala didthe rest.


Toskala made 34 saves and Wade Belak scored his first goal innearly four years to lead the Maple Leafs to their thirdconsecutive victory, a 3-1 triumph over the Nashville Predators.

Nik Antropov and Matt Stajan also tallied for Toronto, which hasnot enjoyed a three-game winning streak since it won fivestraight from January 27-February 6.


Toskala's bid for his second career shutout ended whendefenseman Shea Weber's shot defected off the stick of MapleLeafs blue-liner Tomas Kaberle and past the netminder, closingthe deficit to 3-1 with 5:55 remaining.


"He's a guy that's going to get better as the season goesalong," Predators coach Barry Trotz said of Weber. "He's a bigphysical force and he scored his first goal tonight. Last yearhe got 17 for us; he's going to be among the top defenseman inthis league."


"It bounced off the ice, it took a crazy bounce and I couldn'treact," Toskala said. "I saw it, it just happened so fast Icouldn't cover it."


The 30-year-old Toskala has led the way during the recentstretch in which Toronto has not lost in regulation in fourgames (3-0-1).


He made seven saves in the first period, 14 in the second and 13more in the third.


"We played well enough to win and our goaltender was the keyplayer," Toronto coach Paul Maurice said. "When you get aperformance like Vesa had you should win."


The Maple Leafs wasted little time getting on the scoresheetwhen Antropov scored his 11th goal of the season just 28 secondsinto the contest. Defenseman Hal Gill's shot from the rightpoint was blocked, but the puck bounced to Antropov, who fired aquick shot into the open net.


Captain Mats Sundin extended his franchise-best point-scoringstreak to start the season to 16 home games with an assist onthe goal. He has amassed 25 points during that stretch.

Toronto doubled its advantage at 1:34 of the second period onStajan's impressive tally. Stajan batted the puck out ofmid-air with a backhand into the top corner of the net to makeit 2-0.


"I was just trying to make a spin around play and the puck wentinto the air. I was just trying to bat it out of the air and ithandcuffed the goalie. I'll take it," Stajan said.

After Chad Kilger's blast from the blue line hit Predatorsdefenseman Greg Zanon, Belak tucked in his first goal of theseason from the right of the crease to give the Maple Leafs a3-0 lead just 2:48 into the final session.


"The third goal hits me in the shoulder and goes right to Belakwith a wide-open net," Zanon said. "There's nothing (Predatorsgoaltender Chris) Mason could do, it's just one of those nightswhere they got some bounces and we couldn't put the puck in thenet."


Belak, who has eight career goals, had not scored in hisprevious 143 contests. The 10-year veteran's last tally came onDecember 20, 2003.


"I was hoping some day it would happen again," Belak said.

Kaberle had two assists, giving him 302 in his eight-year career- all with the Maple Leafs - and tying him for third all-timeamong Toronto defensemen.


"It's nice when you look at stats like that in the summer, butit doesn't mean much in the season - the goal is to win gamesand make the playoffs," Kaberle said.


Mason faced just five shots in each period. The 15 shots werethe fewest by Toronto and fewest allowed by Nashville thisseason.


The Predators suffered their first loss to an Eastern Conferenceopponent this season in five games.


"Not always when you play well and deserve to win do you win,and we played well enough but Toskala was the difference," Trotzsaid.