On Wednesday night in Toronto, Martin Gerber made his debut in net for the Ottawa Senators and looked like a future Vezina Trophy winner in a 4 - 1 victory over the Maple Leafs. Only a Mats Sundin penalty shot, that barely trickled across the goal line prevented an opening night shut out.
Move forward 24 hours and the script was flipped. Gerber on Thursday looked more like the shell shocked goalie, pulled mercifully from the shooting gallery in game 2 of last year's playoffs. On this night it was Ray Emery (instead of Cam Ward) who was brought in to stop the bleeding - 5 goals on 24 shots - after the second period. Emery gave up one goal in the third, while on the other end of the ice Andrew Raycroft, as shaky in Wednesday's game as Gerber was strong, got the shut out with 34 saves in goal for Toronto. Final score 6-0.
First win in Toronto for former Hurricane's/Whaler's head coach Paul Maurice, who still looks like he would get carded ordering a drink in a bar. Former Hurricane fan favorite and all around swell guy, Bates Battalgia, also pitched in for the Leafs, scoring his first goal of the season in the third. Battaglia spent all of last season in the minors, playing for the Toronto Marlies under his former coach Maurice. Both moved up the big club this year.
Chad Kilger got the Leafs started early with a short handed goal about half way through the first period. Kilger added a second goal later, to join Darcy Tucker (2), Alex Ponikarovsky and Battaglia on the score sheet. Kyle Westwood had 4 assists (a career high) and Mats Sudin added 2 helpers for the Leafs.
TSN GAME RECAP - here.
-m
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