Taking the Show to Broadway

Madison Square Gardens is the site for the Leafs and Rangers first meeting of the season.  With their 2^nd straight road game the Leafs try to set the pace early to offset the atmosphere in the Gardens for the Rangers home opener.  After a opening period that showed some offensive flare from both teams the Leafs go into the first intermission down -0-1.  The second period was a completely different attack from the Leafs as they continually applied pressure on the Rangers in all three zones.  Speed again proving to be the difference as the Leafs netted three unanswered goals in the frame to head into the third period with a commanding 3-1 lead.  After the Leafs were unsuccessful on a 5 on 3 power play the Rangers seemed to gain momentum and erased their 2 goal deficit and took the game into overtime.  Phil Kessel continued his dominating night with the overtime winner on the power play to extend the Leafs unbeaten run to 4 games. 

Goals:
NY Rangers - Michal Rozsival, Brian Boyle (2)
Toronto - Clarke Macarthur, Mike Komisarek, Phil Kessel (2)

Monster In the House

The Leafs head south to face Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins; with Jonas Gustavsson getting his first start in goal for the season looking to continue the Leafs strong start.  After the first period the Penguins headed into the dressing room up 2-1 and showing that they are the team that many picked to return to the Stanley Cup Finals.   With Clarke Macarthur leading the Leafs in the second period with a strong showing of their speed and aggressive fore-check, the Leafs were able to net in 3 goals largely in part to the poor performance in goal by the Penguins net minder.   Unlike the Leafs of last season, they were able to shutdown the Penguins comeback in the third period with the help of terrific goaltending from Gustavsson, thus leaving Pittsburgh with a full 2 points. 

Goals:
Pittsburgh - Chris Kunitz, Maxime Talbot, Sidney Crosby
Toronto - Colton Orr, Clarke Macarthur (2), Francois Beauchemin

Leafs Win! Leafs Win!

A dominating performance against their Ontario rivals left Ottawa heading home with their tails between their legs.  From the start of the game Torontos speed was no match for the tired legs of the Ottawa Sentators that had played the night before in Buffalo.  An aggressive fore-check pinned the Senators deep in the zone and that strategy allowed the Leafs to sustain the pressure needed to force turnovers in the offense zone leading to scoring chances. 

Goals:
Toronto - Nikolai Kulemin, Phil Kessel, Clarke Macarthur, Kris Versteeg, Tim Brent
Ottawa - Jason Spezza