Tired Leafs Run Into Road Block

Returning from a ten day Scandinavian adventure and literally being thrown right back on the ice to face an eagerly waiting Buffalo Sabres team is not the homecoming the Leafs would have liked but such are the hardships of the fast moving preseason schedule. This schedule sees the Leafs complete their remaining eight preseason games in fourteen days, a set up that leaves no rest for the weary.

Those weary, or perhaps more accurately, injured players include Nikolai Antropov and Gary Roberts, not to mention the ailing Trevor Kidd and Bryan McCabe. Antropov and Roberts are experiencing a shoulder injury and groin pull, respectively. Antropov skated today and seems to be recovering fairly well. Roberts’ groin injury is taking a little longer to heal than was originally expected. "We are altering his rehab a little bit. We are not getting the results there that we hoped,” said Leaf coach Pat Quinn. Starting the regular season with a healthy lineup is important to help the Leafs get off to a good start.

Along with Antropov’s injury that was incurred in last night’s contest, the Leafs chose, quite wisely, to rest a number of veterans allowing them an extra day to recover from jet lag. Mats Sundin, Alexander Mogilny, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi, Tom Fitzgerald and Aki Berg were all healthy scratches for last night’s game.

Ed Belfour was the starting goaltender for the Leafs but was replaced by Sebastian Centomo mid-way through the second period. Centomo allowed two goals on nine shots; however, both came during short-handed situations. Centomo, who a year and a half ago was in the third spot on the Leafs’ goaltending depth chart, has slipped seemingly below Mikeal Tellqvist and even Jamie Hodson. Centomo could challenge for the starting job in St. John’s to start the year but will probably be relegated to the back up role once either Hodson or Tellqvist is returned to The Rock after serving as Trevor Kidd’s replacement.

The Leafs take on the Habs in Montreal tomorrow in what should be a typical Habs-Leafs game. The best is usually brought out in both teams during these contests and often result in compelling games, whether they occur in the preseason or regular season.