Newcomers lead Leafs to shutout win
Written by on February 2nd, 2010 in Latest News.
The roster makeover for the Toronto Maple Leafs had an immediate impact on Tuesday evening.
Newcomers Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Fredrik Sjostrom and Dion Phaneuf each made a strong first impression in their debut performances for the Leafs, who managed to snap a six-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory against the New Jersey Devils at the Air Canada Centre.
With the addition of the three players, bought in separate deals with the Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, there certainly was a buzz in the building that hasn’t been felt for some time as another listless season has developed for the Leafs.
The crowd of 19,326 was appreciative that the Leafs’ league-worst penalty killing was better. They also liked the fact that Toronto didn’t blow a three-goal lead like it did last Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks, and that Giguere immediately improved the NHL’s highest goals-against average (3.48) with his 30-save shutout.
Giguere, still sporting his Ducks mask, wasn’t overworked and that was a excellent development because he will need time to shake off the rust. He’s a Stanley Cup-winning netminder that played more than 55 games for five straight seasons until last year when Jonas Hiller shared the workload with him in Anaheim.
This season, the 32-year-ancient Giguere only has made 20 appearances. But if he can quickly find his form under his former tutor Francois Allaire, all of a sudden the Leafs will have their best goaltender since the days of Ed Belfour — the only other to post a shutout in his Leafs debut eight years ago.
Giguere was in position all game and got some help from his goalpost when Devils centre Travis Zajac clanked a shot off the iron late in the second period. It was the Leafs fourth shutout of the season.
Sjostrom, a 26-year-ancient Swede who chipped in an help on his second shift, will no doubt help the Leafs’ hapless penalty killing. He was paired with linemate Rickard Wallin as the lead forward duo on penalty kills and they got results. The Devils went 0-for-2 in man-advantage situations.
Phaneuf a physical force
Phaneuf was a physical force in his first Leafs appearance. This was a welcome sight for Toronto coach Ron Wilson. He and general manager Brian Burke boasted all summer and in training camp that the Leafs would be much more hard to play against this season. That proved to be a bunch of baloney, at least until Phaneuf’s arrival Monday night.
He rocked New Jersey forward Rob Niedermayer along the boards early in the game then took a run at sniper Zach Parise a few shifts later in the New Jersey end. That prompted Devils defenceman Colin White to step in. He and Phaneuf tussled and the new Leafs blue liner, who was paired with Francois Beauchemin, immediately won over his new teammates and fans with his ruggedness.
But before the Toronto supporters start to plot the parade route, it should be pointed out that the Devils are a struggling team right now. They have won only three of their past 10 games and backup goalie Yann Danis was in goal to give 37-year-ancient workhorse Martin Brodeur a rest.
The Leafs loved a 1-0 lead after first period and improved that advantage by two in the second. Toronto’s Nikolai Kulemin popped in Sjostrom’s rebound for a 1-0 lead. Phil Kessel scored his 18th of the season and third in his past two games when he trailed on the play early in the second period. Beauchemin blasted in his point shot on the power play with less than six minutes remaining in the second period.
