Leaf's bid dealt blow
Hopeful of tyingthe Eastern Conference's No.7 seed with 89 points last night, the overwhelmed Leafs instead found themselves four back of New York, three behind Tampa Bay and one behind eighth-place Montreal, burning the game in hand they held on the Habs with the 7-2 mauling in Manhattan
The Leafs also lost defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo. His right leg was already hurt from a stumble into the end boards chasing a puck in the first period, and he was rocked by a couple of hits later in the game and didn't come out for the third.
Everything could be on the line come Saturday
The Maple Leafs' two games in New York this week will close out their road schedule and if you believe they can get by the last-place Philadelphia Flyers at home tomorrow, then getting at least a split Thursday against the New York Islanders will fulfil predictions that the playoff chase will come down to Game 82 on Saturday against the Monteal Canadiens. The Leafs are a point behind Montreal after last night's 7-2 loss to the Rangers with three to play.
Toronto Star
Fright night in New York
A host of other negatives piled up for the Leafs: Andrew Raycroft was yanked after four goals, an injury to Carlo Colaiacovo and Avery running his mouth at Darcy Tucker after those two brawled in the first period. But the Leafs clearly couldn't match the hard-driving Rangers and breakdowns all over the ice ensued.
Maurice said Prucha fouled his excellent young blueliner, sliding his foot under Colaiacovo's skate while at full speed and upending him. "Carlo got slew-footed in the first period, he reaggravated an injury (a broken finger earlier this year), but we expect him to play (tomorrow night)," Maurice said.
Avery drives Leafs bonkers
Maybe Leaf general manager John Ferguson knew a little bit about the gumption of his team when he inquired about Avery's availability over the past year, only to see Los Angeles ultimately deal the truculent winger to the Rangers, who are 16-5-5 with him in the lineup.
But it wasn't just Avery. From the moment Petr Prucha delivered a dangerous slew-foot to Carlo Colaiacovo at the eight-minute mark of the first on an icing call, to late in the second when Blair Betts, Jed Ortmeyer, Ryan Callahan and others joined enthusiastically in the hit-fest, the Rangers seemed more prepared to go nasty if that was required.
Nurse's act of kindness gets Leafs attention
Tucker learned from Leafs play-by-play man Joe Bowen that nurse Julie Beattie was wearing Tucker's No. 16 jersey when she sprung to the aid of a man suffering a heart attack just after the Penguins tied Saturday's game late in the third period.
Hurricanes not dead yet
Carolina, which is close to becoming only the third defending champion to miss the playoffs the following year, pulled within two points of eighth-place Montreal. The 1970 Canadiens and the 1996 Devils were the other teams to not qualify the season after winning the Cup.
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