Leafs Post Second Straight Win

It is without a doubt that the playoffs have already begun for the Maple Leafs if they have any hopes for participation once the official Stanley Cup tournament begins in mid April. After struggling through a terrible stretch of fourteen games without recording a victory in regulation time, the Maple Leafs are now winners of two straight contests after defeating the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, 3-2, in a shootout. Despite allowing the Bruins to pick up a point with an overtime loss, the extra point was significant for the Maple Leafs as they still trail the Bruins – currently tied for eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings - by five points.

Alex Steen – making his return from a one game absence due to a bout of the flu – opened the scoring at the four minute mark of the first period netting his eighth goal of the season. The Maple Leafs held the lead until 14:27 of the first period when Zdeno Chara tied the game for Boston on a blast from the top of the circle in the Maple Leafs’ zone. Marco Sturm put the Bruins in front a minute and a half later, a lead which they held heading into the first intermission despite generating only six shots on goal during the opening frame.

Over the final two periods, the Maple Leafs solidified their defensive game and received outstanding netminding from Vesa Toskala who made twenty nine stops over the course of the game. Matt Stajan scored his eleventh goal of the season with just nine seconds left to play in the second period tying the game at two goals apiece.

Neither team could score the winner in overtime leaving the game to be decided in a shootout. Mats Sundin and Alex Steen beat Bruins’ netminder Alex Auld while Vesa Toskala stopped Phil Kessel and Marc Savard to win his first career shootout and give Toronto a much needed win.

The Maple Leafs will return home to face the Buffalo Sabres - winless in their last ten games - on Saturday night at Air Canada Centre.