Tlusty Leads Leafs In NHL Debut

Just as Paul Maurice alluded to during his post game press conference following a disheartening shootout loss on home ice to the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday, hitting the road was indeed a tonic to the porous defensive play that the Maple Leafs have suffered through for the better part of the regular season. An injection of youth in the form of 2006 first round draft pick, Jiri Tlusty, did not hurt against the speedy Penguins either.

The Maple Leafs took on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second time this season but looked vastly different from the squad that imploded in the third period en route to a 6-4 loss in their first meeting on October 13th. Instead, the Maple Leafs skated aggressively, limiting the production of Sidney Crosby and company and held the potent Penguins offense to only twenty five shots. Vesa Toskala made his second consecutive start and was solid when called upon to make difficult saves. Most importantly, with the game tied at one goal a piece heading into the final period, the Maple Leafs did not self destruct. Throughout the final twenty minutes, the Maple Leafs played their best period thus far this season, dominating the play scoring four times on nine shots leading them to an impressive 5-2 victory.

Offense continued to come naturally to the Maple Leafs who still hold a commanding lead in scoring among NHL teams with forty two goals. Nik Antropov – one of the Maple Leafs most consistent performers at both ends of the rink throughout their first eleven games – had two assists and Alex Steen finally broke out of an early season slump with a goal and two assists. Just as he did a year ago, Steen has struggled during the month of October despite, at times, showing glimpses of greatness.

General Manager John Ferguson Jr. summoned Jiri Tlusty from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League on Wednesday to add an injection of youth and to change the dynamic in the dressing room reminding veterans that job security is never guaranteed. Tlusty impressed in his National Hockey League debut scoring twice and showed speed and explosiveness, talents the Maple Leafs have far too little of contained in their roster. Tlusty’s second goal – a tremendous effort in which he beat a Penguins’ defenseman one on one – would eventually turn out to be the game winning marker. With the performance he contributed in his inaugural NHL contest, there is little doubt he has earned himself a second game on Saturday when the Maple Leafs will take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.