Maple Leafs take care of Wings 5-1

Nov 8, 12:23 am EST

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TORONTO (AP)—With Phil Kessel(notes) and Jonas Gustavsson(notes) in the lineup, the Toronto Maple Leafs are starting to show big improvement.

Kessel scored his first goal with Toronto and Gustavsson made 35 saves to lead the Maple Leafs to a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.

After a dreadful start to the season, things have started to turn around for the Maple Leafs. They’ve been playing much better hockey the past two weeks— buoyed in large part by Gustavsson taking over the No. 1 goaltending job—and have moved out of the NHL basement by winning two in a row and earning points in seven straight games (3-0-4).

Wayne Primeau(notes), Jeff Finger(notes), John Mitchell(notes) and Alexei Ponikarovsky(notes) also scored for Toronto.

Daniel Cleary scored for the Red Wings.

For Leafs coach Ron Wilson, there’s no mystery in the turnaround.

“When you get solid goaltending it certainly helps,” he said. “I think a big part of the game was a difference in the goaltending on both sides. Obviously having Phil Kessel in there as well, we just have a different feel.”

Gustavsson, in particular, seems to have helped turn the tide.

He returned from a groin injury roughly two weeks ago and helped the team win the first game in Anaheim—the night the Leafs’ points streak began. Gustavsson has started five of the six games since, winning in Carolina on Friday before beating the Red Wings 24 hours later.

“He’s made some saves that I call game-changers,” Leafs forward Jason Blake(notes) said. “Right at the key times and they’ve been outstanding. Last night and tonight, he was the difference. It was good to see.”

Added Kessel: “Gustavsson in net tonight again—it’s unbelievable. He played outstanding for us.”

Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the first period. Primeau scored his first with the Maple Leafs at 10:34, when he came in off the wing and beat Chris Osgood(notes) to the blocker side.

Kessel extended the lead at 19:34 with a tap-in goal. Jason Blake’s shot had rolled past Osgood when Kessel tipped the puck into an empty net.

“It’s just an instinct thing,” Kessel said. “You never know if a guy’s behind you. All of sudden I don’t touch it and then some guy hits it out of there—you’ve got to bury it. I’d expect anyone else to bury that one too.”

Finger made it 3-0 at 5:21 of the second period after jumping into the rush and taking a nice pass from Lee Stempniak(notes). It was a big goal for the defenseman, who has been a healthy scratch eight times this season.

Gustavsson was sharp once again, coming across his crease early in the third period to deny Henrik Zetterberg(notes).

“Everybody on the team wants to win and wants to be successful,” Gustavsson said. “We want the fans to be happy. When we started playing better, everybody’s going to be happy. If we can just continue like this it’s going to be a fun season.”

Cleary ended up breaking his shutout bid shortly after when he sneaked in behind the Leafs defense and scoring at 5:59.

The hopes for a comeback didn’t last long. Detroit was quickly penalized for too many men on the ice and Mitchell tipped home a Kessel shot on the power play, giving him goals on consecutive nights.

Ponikarovsky then scored to make it 5-1. It was the second time this season Osgood has allowed five goals.

However, that’s only one issue hurting the Wings. They lost three key forwards to free agency in the summer and continue to get hit with injuries— Jason Williams(notes) left Saturday’s game after fracturing his right fibula, joining Johan Franzen(notes) and Valtteri Filppula(notes) as injured Red Wings.

“We’re obviously not scoring like we have in the past,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “I think one of the things we had to do is get our head around the fact that we’ve got the same sweaters (but) we can’t play the same way. We’ve got to find a way to win.

“One of the things that’s been fun about being a Red Wing the last few years is that we had the puck all the time. We’ve got the puck a lot (now), but we’re not as dynamic offensively at all.”

Notes: Seventeen members of the Hockey Hall of Fame were honored before the game—Steve Yzerman, who received the loudest ovation, is one of five men being inducted on Monday night. … Fans sang former Leafs goalie Johnny Bower “Happy Birthday” during the second period. He turns 84 on Sunday.

Updated Nov 8, 12:23 am EST
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83 Comments

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  1. Blue Blood
    83. Posted by Blue Blood Tue Nov 10 7:27pm EST

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    @Post82

    Cu@tbag69

    You are @#$%"ED Nuff said
  2. Cathy P
    82. Posted by Cathy P Tue Nov 10 11:35am EST

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    Hey Laff Blood @ post 81, No i didn't see your little Babe flick but i'm sure if it had piggy's in it you abused yourself! And as for those notches on your belt those are probably from your boy friends yanking your pants down again before they did you.And,HA! HA! thats your obvious category with your little red rump and coke bottled shaped mouth.GO HAROLD BALLARD,BURKE, FERGSON JR.!
  3. Blue Blood
    81. Posted by Blue Blood Tue Nov 10 6:15am EST

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    @Post80

    Cu@tbag69

    You are right I am frightened of women that are xxxxxxxxlg and have trucker mouths like yours Ya Dirty Old Lot Lizard. As for the notches on my belt the best of the best would be proud but sorry Babe(remember the movie babe?) you don't fit into this category. Have fun trolling the lots!!!!
  4. Cathy P
    80. Posted by Cathy P Mon Nov 9 7:16pm EST

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    WOW! Post # 78, Laff Blood, Did you ever shock me with those sexual semantics--"NOT"-- what a" frightned little twit" you are! But let me tell you about "Laff Blood Sex" it's just something he does to himself until he's blue in the face! GO HAROLD BALLARD ,BURKE,FERGUSON JR.!
  5. <i>ky2pac</i>
    79. Posted by ky2pac Mon Nov 9 5:07pm EST

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    I think the leaf have best goal tender in nhl. I am so proud of the rookie gaolie great stuff!!!! Leaf need just one more snipper bring back sundin for good bargin....i think this team going to bounce back big time...go leaf go.....
  6. Blue Blood
    78. Posted by Blue Blood Mon Nov 9 4:35pm EST

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    @Post75 Cu@tbag69

    Cu@tbag when will you comeback with something you thought of yourself?I will leave the kitchen to you in your xxxxxxlg MOO MOO. I know people it's not a pretty sight. That's why the old lot lizard AKA Cu@tbag 69 is constantly out here.It's Retarded Corky like comments are not even welcome on It's beloved HabsBeens sites.Now come on and repeat yourself for the 100 000 000 time.I know someone wrote it all down for you on your box of Ex lax. Just relax and let the Verbal diarrhea flow retard.We all know you have been waiting all day to read this so I was nice enough to give you your fix Ya Dirty Old Lot Lizard.
  7. HotStacey
    77. Posted by HotStacey Mon Nov 9 1:28pm EST

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    Ouch, that was an ugly game...................How many more guys are the Wings going to lose?
  8. Navy Veteran
    76. Posted by Navy Veteran Mon Nov 9 11:53am EST

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    The wings are in need of some quality players....goal tenders as well. They will make it to the play-offs, but will be out in the beginning, probably first round. Let's hope that we can get some talent next year with all the cap space that we will have.
  9. cathypare65
    75. Posted by cathypare65 Mon Nov 9 11:37am EST

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    Laff Blood, "PLEASE Get a grip"! (no not there again, leave it alone.) If you can't stand the heat little boy get out of the kitchen ,back into your Laff jamies and go cry yourself to sleep again! I can't help it if the leafs haven't won a dam thing since Moses was a boy.Face it your horse(the Laffs) are a losing Nag. now c'mon reply to me! I love your little girlie whines! GO HAROLD BALLAD,BURKE,FERGUSON JR.!
  10. DON_DOC_IN
    74. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Mon Nov 9 11:06am EST

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    Wings lose to the Leafs yet some @hole is on here talking of the AVS dominance over the Wings since 2008 opening night? It is amazing the stupid people that come on here. What a tool!
  11. DON_DOC_IN
    73. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Mon Nov 9 8:27am EST

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    @Fat....Must have missed something. Groin injuries? Franzen, Knee. Fillipula, wrist. Willams, leg. Oh, I get it. Your obsession with that region of the male body is just coming through again.. Gotcha!
  12. da fat man
    72. Posted by da fat man Mon Nov 9 6:45am EST

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    This IS gettting ridiculous. All these injuries even have me feeling sorry for the pink wings. They'd better be careful with all the groin pulls that go on in their locker room. Just waiting for Datsuck(the lionheart) to take a couple weeks off with a boo boo on her wittle toe.
  13. Blue Blood
    71. Posted by Blue Blood Mon Nov 9 6:22am EST

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    @Post63 Cu@tbag69

    Why yyou called Laff Abomination. You should lay off the Crack you Crazy Biotch. Everything you say out here is nothing but verbal diarrhea and 90% of your posts contain the exact same content. Is this how your infantile mind gets off. You should see a shrink before you end up hanging yourself.I know it must be difficult mentally being a lot lizard to earn money and going home to the double wide trailer with a drunk wearing a wife beater waiting for you.Now crawl into your closet turn the lights off and cry yourself to sleep.cause no one really cares what you think.
  14. <i>missinglink15332</i>
    70. Posted by missinglink15332 Sun Nov 8 11:59pm EST

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    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Redwings!!! Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  15. cathypare65
    69. Posted by cathypare65 Sun Nov 8 11:13pm EST

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    Whah! Whah! i love it habhatter! where are your team comparisons you like to throw at the wings and other teams ,when it comes to the Habs.I``m not or have not been bragging like you and your disgraceful bunch of Laffs! At least the wings and their fans can remember some cups and personal trophies ,(as can the habs and many other teams) C,mon retard tell us about all the tropies you,ve seen. Make T i don.t often agree with you but the Ole Ole And Sha na na stuff is very unsportsman like and i wish they would stop it ! To all you other insignifigant Laff Delusionals ,your the reason their is so many `` LAFFS`` here on the comedy network! GO HAROLD BALLARD,BURKE`,FERGUSON JR.!
  16. 88
    68. Posted by 88 Sun Nov 8 9:58pm EST

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    @64 66 and 67 Hear hear! I second that nomination by the way @67.
    You need psychological and psychiatric treatment Cathy. What happened to you? Did some person from Toronto sweep you off your feet, and then realize what a freak you are and run for his or her life? And now you take it out on Leafs fans?
    Your team stinks. Please talk about your team in the future OK? Your team is missing Markov, O'Byrne and Gill. They have little scoring. They are small up front. No depth. Goaltending suspect at best. Your GM is a foolish man. Talk about that. And look to get thumped on Tuesday night by Calgary at the Misery Centre, er, the Bell Centre. We will beat Minnesota that same night and move to within three points of Montreal with two games in hand. And we will keep moving up the standings while Montreal continues to spiral downwards.
    Yes, your Canadiens have won many Cups. I know exactly how many but why don't you tell us? And why don't you tell us who wrote that awful book you cited? Let's see what you know. Don't go to Google if you don't know, and please stay off the crack tonight OK? I know it's hard but you can do it. Take a few percs and drink alcohol. So much nicer. Bye honey.
  17. Avs in 10
    67. Posted by Avs in 10 Sun Nov 8 6:32pm EST

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    I hereby nominate "cathypare65" as the worst poster in the universe.

    Congratulations in advance for your landslide victory.
  18. Mike T
    66. Posted by Mike T Sun Nov 8 6:26pm EST

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    Cathy

    Let me echo some words you and your fellow Hab fans are so familiar with

    OLE OLE OLE OLE...... OLE OLE..... OLE OLE OLE OLE..... OLE OLE!!

    BTW how did did those Habs fair against Tampa anyways?
  19. cathypare65
    65. Posted by cathypare65 Sun Nov 8 5:10pm EST

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    At post 64 ,Sorry Laff - Dyke from a bar i don't do Dyke's!
  20. Johndyke Bar
    64. Posted by Johndyke Bar Sun Nov 8 5:03pm EST

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    @ cathypare65

    ..you should go see a doctor
  21. cathypare65
    63. Posted by cathypare65 Sun Nov 8 3:51pm EST

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    OKay Laff Abomination ,You wat to know why he's called " LAFF BLOOD" !! It was on a beautiful day last May and Laff Blood was merrily skipping behind his dollcart in which was his proud collection of Laff dollies.On the cart his little Laff flag flew proudly.In his curly hair he wore his Laff ribbons .He turned a corner and yikes there were the neighbourhood bullies! (2 girls aged 10 and 12.) They proceeded to beat him like Probert on Aki Berg!! Laff Blood waddled home as best he could, had the Laff banner extracted from his rectal area and bent over to cry.Just then one of his little Laff ribbons fell from his curls, bloodied on the ground in front of him.(from a laceration recieved from a conked dollie!) that is the sad and tragic reason he,s known as "LAFF BLOOD"! Now i suppose you want to know why youy called "LAFF ABOMINATION!! GO HAROLD BALLARD,BURKE,ERGUSON JR.!
  22. dropthegloves
    62. Posted by dropthegloves Sun Nov 8 3:32pm EST

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    Bad news. Wings are riddled with injuries. No J Franzen, V Filppula and now J Williams will be out at least 2 months. Who is next? Avs, Coyotes, and Kings are makings some noises. They might not win a Stanley Cup this year, but they will surprise a lot of people. Who would have thought Craig Anderson was a good goalie? What about Ilya Bryzalov? He already had 3 shutout. Bankcrupcy judge has approved the sale of Coyotes to the NHL, and they are looking for buyers. When the Kings played against Coyotes on Monday 11/2/09, the attendant was 6,555 or maybe less. Kings won 5-3. Ducks went there on Sat 10/31/09 the attendant was 5,850. 5,800 was the smallest crowd. Any way, Ducks lost in a shootout 3-2 if I am not mistaken. Speaking of Ducks, they beat Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 last night at Honda Center in Anaheim. Ducks are 6-7-2, 14 points dead last, Kings are 10-5-2, 22 points 2nd, Coyotes are 10-7-0, 20 points. Kings will go on the road for 5 games starting at Windy City Mon 11/9/09. Kings will play on Nov 11, Veterans' Day. Happy Veterans Day everybody. Go Kings!
  23. cathypare65
    61. Posted by cathypare65 Sun Nov 8 3:18pm EST

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    Hey ,Habhatter, Why don't you show us those same stats but only ,Habs and LAFFS instead? You probably think reading in the bathroom is mult-itasking! And Laff Blood don"t go outside with your little Laff dollies bragging and get beat up by the neighbourhood girls again!
  24. 88
    60. Posted by 88 Sun Nov 8 3:11pm EST

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    @44 Blue Blood and @43 Guy F.
    I have to disagree with you Blue Blood about Razor getting shoddy treatment in Toronto. He got what he deserved. You know he stank through much of his final year. Horrendous job. I think it is astounding he is still in the NHL and Gillis gave him another chance in Vancouver after he blew it in Denver.
    Toskala. His days are numbered. As Guy F. rightly notes he is a UFA after this year, commands $4 mill. a year and has never been a #1 goalie in his career until he came to Toronto and we have seen what that has resulted in. His confidence is utterly shot. Chatter is he might go back to Finland after this year is out. I think he might do well for the Helsinki Hellcats in Finland's best beer league. He's 32 and done. Two surgeries last year and I thought he would be OK. I was WRONG! This guy is a stiff.
    If a GM is desperate why not grab a guy like Legace or Fernandez who I believe are still out there. Plenty of goalies at the dime a dozen goalie store.
    Love the friendly banter between Blue Blood and that little sweetheart CathyPare65. You in the midst of menopause Cathy? Old age, wrinkles, crinkles and sadness hitting hard? What is wrong with you man? You are one seriously screwed up creature. You say the exact same thing every freakin' post you write. Exactly. And what exactly is LaffBlood? And what team do you like? Oh, why do I bother? You are not worth it at all.
  25. 88
    59. Posted by 88 Sun Nov 8 2:53pm EST

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    @33 Blue Blood. Outstanding bro'! "What planet did you drop in from?" Love it! Too funny.
    coho97 You are a profound dumbass. Leafs all-time against the Wings 275-274-81 Two more Cups won and more to come for us. Your team is on the way down, way way way down. The Dead Things will be returning soon enough. We're on the way up. Fast. We'll be the next Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup. Book it. Mark it. Remember that. You heard it here first and no I am not delusional. It is our time.
    @25 Sharkboy. The Leafs are a joke team? Really? What does that make the San Jose Sharks? They remind me of a somebody who likes to play cards, wins all the time when there is no money on the table, great, outstanding, BUT when the money IS on the table and things COUNT bye bye! That in a nutshell is your joke of a team. Who's going to KO them in the playoffs this year? I really hope it will be the Ducks again.
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Chris Osgood Det 28 23
Jonas Gustavsson Tor 36 35

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