Flames, Leafs meet in Toronto

The Sports Network

Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009

(Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames will try to bounce back from a close loss when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at Air Canada Centre in the finale of a three-game road trip.

Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs shoots the puck to score against the Chicago Blackhawks as John Madden #11 of the Blackhawks waits behind on November 13, 2009 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs shoots the puck to score against the Chicago Blackhawks as John Madden #11 of the Blackhawks waits behind on November 13, 2009 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Photograph by : Getty Images

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The Flames rode a season-high, four-game winning streak into Friday's game at Buffalo, but were dealt a shootout loss by the Sabres. Calgary is still 7-2-1 in its last 10 contests and 5-1-2 as the visiting club this season.

Jason Pominville netted the shootout winner and Ryan Miller was solid with 25 saves to lift the Sabres to the 2-1 victory. Daymond Langkow had the lone goal for Calgary, while Miikka Kiprusoff recorded 32 saves in the setback.

The Flames were hoping to halt a seven-game winless drought in Buffalo dating back to 1996. Calgary also suffered its first loss of the year against the Eastern Conference, having won its first three games against them.

Flames forward Curtis Glencross will serve the final test of a three-game suspension tonight. He was handed the sanction for a hit on Chris Drury of the New York Rangers last Saturday and will be eligible to return Tuesday against Colorado.

The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, lost their second straight regulation contest on Friday after recording a point in the seven previous games. Since posting a surprising 5-1 win over visiting Detroit last Saturday, Toronto lost a 5-2 home decision to Minnesota on Tuesday and then dropped last night's close battle in Chicago.

Cristobal Huet made 29 saves and Troy Brouwer recorded the game-winner in the second period to lift the Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory over the Leafs at United Center.

Phil Kessel notched both goals for the Maple Leafs, while Vesa Toskala nearly matched the effort of Huet with 31 saves. Toskala saw his first game action since October 31 and fell to 0-3-2 on the season. Jonas Gustavsson is expected to get the start in net tonight.

"Vesa had an outstanding night. There was nothing he could do on any of the goals," said Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson. "He made a dozen great saves when we needed them (but) we made a couple bonehead mistakes and it cost us."

Kessel, who came over in an offseason trade with Boston, has recorded four goals and two assists in five games as a Maple Leaf. He failed to register a point in his previous two career contests against Calgary.

Toronto will try to earn just its second home win of the season tonight after going 1-5-2 at ACC so far this season. Following this evening's game, the Maple Leafs will head out on the road for stops in Ottawa and Carolina.

Tonight marks the first of two meetings between the Flames and Leafs this season. The clubs split a pair of games in 2008-09 with each team winning on its home ice. The Leafs have taken six of 10 overall in the series and Calgary has lost four in a row and 14 of its last 15 games in Toronto.

 
 
 
 
 

your comments
Easy night for Flames
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 02:43 PM
It is Calgary who have the free spot on the bingo card tonight. Blame the goalie, blame the refs, lets start the excuses early.
Sheila
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 03:09 PM
Go Flames Go, Blow away the fallen leafs
Battle of the Flu Vaccinated
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 03:12 PM
When watching this game tonight, I hope all Canadians realize these two degenerate organizations stole medication intended for you and your family. These classless losers were the only two NHL teams that deemed themselves more important than you or your sick child. Rather than acting like men and waiting their turn like the rest of us, these so called athletes had to jump the line and say screw you Canada. I expected this from a liar, and a cheating American like Brian Burke, but I am disappointed in decent Canadian guys like the Sutters. Personally I hope for pain and injuries in this game tonight and as a protest I will not watch. I sincerely hope each and everyone of them get an STD or worse.
@Battle of the Flu Vaccinated
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 04:10 PM
First of all you're a loser. Secondly you are an idiot. And thirdly you are a moron.
Kessell reminds me of Lafleur
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 04:13 PM
Lafleur was somewhat small..could skate quickly.. and knew where the net was. Kessell is somewhat unique because he "wrists" his shots. Goalies look rather stunned when he shoots because of the quickness and the fact that with a wrist shot the goalie has no idea where it is going to go. If Kessell "stays healthy", he will become the most prolific goalscorer in leaf history. He doesn't score garbage goals like Blake did in New York. He shoots from 15-20 feet out and his shot is hard and accurate. He is a tough little guy who can take a hit as well. I think that this is Burke's only good move so far. The rest of his choices have not panned out. Kessell could score 40-50 goals every year, if healthy. His number 81 will become the best seller among leaf fans and possibly in the top 5 in the league, in 2 years time.
@ flu vaccinated
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 04:19 PM
You are right, unfortunately. We can never give up our universal health care sytem because this activity would become normal because then money would buy you favours, legally. That would be the end of the middle class. Cancer treatment can cost upwards of $500,000. Who could afford that?
Dave
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 05:11 PM
I know this game is against another Canadian team so I will give them a pass on this one, but why do we have to stomach on of the worst teams in pro sports week after week. Thanks a lot Communist Broadcast Corp. A joke that the state-run tv department wants to always ram their agenda down our throats with our own money.
AK
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 05:45 PM
It's the Flukes vs The Whatevers. Should be a complete yawner game. Thanks god for NHL Gamecentre
Cups
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 06:19 PM
I just read that for $41 you can see Columbus, have 2 beers, and two dogs. I think we are the suckers up here in Canada.
Costs
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 06:20 PM
What does it cost to see the Leafs and Flames tonight?
AFS
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 06:34 PM
The leafs should unload Stajan & Finger these two players are over-rated and the leafs need a big time centre with playmaking abilities. Stajan & Finger suck! Burke what are you waiting for?
Dave
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 10:18 PM
Another Leafs blow out...what a surprise..Fire Burke and Wilson!!!!!!!!!
@Dave
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 11:54 PM
Dave is a moron. He knows that the leafs are probably going to lose, yet he still gets upset when they do. And what does he say after each loss? Fire Burke and Wilson. He's like the retarded kid who keeps coming back to that same group of guys who keep punching him in the face. He knows it's going to happen, but is still surprised when it does.
Cheapest ticket $150 at ACC
Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 10:04 AM
MLSE is laughing at leaf fans "all the way to the bank". Its "time to wear brown bags en masse".
ALMOST
Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 03:39 PM
Try and try again but even Calgary tried to give them the game they couldn't do it. The great gusty was good on two of the five shots he faced and toronto could only score on power play....what a excuse for a team....you can see what kida team the U.S. will have in the olympics
How come Face-off cut comments?
Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 04:55 PM
Last nights game in Toronto..no comments allowed by face-off..we readers could go elsewhere if we get blocked again..Hope somebody at Face-off reads this.
Last time here.
Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 06:28 PM
Thats because Montreal lost 20 and faced 55 shots, thats why Faceoff.com was off, they hate Habs bashers, but its alright to diss Toronto.
former habs fan
Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 06:34 PM
H.A.B.S Having Another Bad Season...Did you know with the free agents leaving Toronto, TSN estimates the Leafs will free up $22 million for next season. Add our young players and prospects, and we have a much better future than Montreal.
remember
Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 11:13 PM
2 given away
No future
Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 11:15 AM
Stupid comment by former habs fan. No future without draft picks, $22 million in cap space is not much of an asset when you throw away good money like signing Komisuck. Laffs are in the basement for 10 years at least. The future is in Boston, thanks for those picks.
Flu Shots
Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 03:56 PM
Guess those Flu shots didn't help the Laffs much. Another losing streak that won't end till the New Year. Boston should load up Carolina and guarantee that #1 pick. Wait MLSE did that when they hired Burke.
chipper2040
Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 04:29 PM
Does anyone know where i can find a maple leaf usher,i want to get some game tickets. I hear that you have to do some "favors" for them.Does that mean getting their dry cleaning or something? Somebody said something about playing a rusty trombone,but i'm not very good with musical instruments new or rusty.
Mayor Smitherfag
Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 08:17 PM
WE MUST promote gays to play on this team--winning the Stanley Cup during the world gay festivities I will preside over in June 2014 is my goal!
@No future
Tue, Nov 17, 09 at 02:25 PM
As usual you don't know what you are talking about. To say the leafs will be in the basement for 10 years is ridiculous. The leafs traded for Kessel because they felt by signing free agents like Bozak, Hanson, and Gustuvsson they could afford to give up a few 1st rounders. As well as these young players they also have some other up and comers like Stallberg, and Gunnerson, as well as signing some other free agents in the off season. There is no way they will be in the basement much longer.
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