Leafs get pre-season victory over Canadiens
Canadian Press
9/22/2005 9:25:47 PM
TORONTO (CP) - Steve Thomas knew coming into camp as a 42-year-old walk-on that he'd have to be so good during the pre-season that the Toronto Maple Leafs would eagerly sign him to a contract and extend his NHL career.
The one goal he's scored in two exhibitions, contributing to a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night, might not be enough to prompt GM John Ferguson to choose him and deny a much younger player already in the organization and battling for a promotion - such as Kyle Wellwood - a shot at proving himself in the big league. But Thomas continues to battle for a roster spot.
''I've got to continue to play hard every night,'' Thomas said. ''I'm still trying to find the hands a little bit, but it's all going to come.
''I'm not worried that it's not going to be there.''
Wellwood's two-goal effort enhanced his chances of breaking into the big-league lineup.
''I'm pretty confident that if I get to play here I'll be alright,'' he said.
Rookie Alexander Steen, another youngster looking to make it, also had an impressive outing.
Veteran defenceman Bryan McCabe also scored for Toronto (2-1).
Jan Bulis, Tomas Plekanec and Pierre Dagenais scored for Montreal (2-1), which used few of its regulars.
McCabe opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 14:01. The veteran defenceman slapped a low drive from the blue-line past Yann Danis, who was screened by Nik Antropov.
Bulis tied it at 16:58 when he beat Jean-Francois Racine with a high slapper from the middle of Toronto's zone.
Wellwood put Toronto up 2-1 at 4:00 of the second period. The five-foot-10 centre faked a pass on a 2-on-1 rush to keep defenceman Craig Rivet guessing and lifted a wrist shot from close range over Danis' catching mitt.
Wellwood, 22, a second-year pro from Windsor, Ont., had 87 points including 38 goals for Toronto's AHL farm team last season.
''I'm pretty confident that if I get to play here I'll be alright,'' he said.
''Maybe he's ready to make the step,'' said coach Pat Quinn, adding that Wellwood ''has a real offensive flair.''
Mikael Tellqvist replaced Racine and Carey Price took over from Danis mid-way through the second period.
Thomas scored at 14:25 to end a scramble. Darcy Tucker rushed to hug him, and the 18,853 spectators gave the loudest cheer of the night to the winger who was one of Toronto's most popular players during two previous stints with the team. Thomas didn't celebrate. He'd scored goals that were a lot more important.
''I think my 13-year-old could have scored that one,'' he said. ''I guess it's being in the right place at the right time.
''I'm pretty happy with the game.''
Injuries limited Thomas to 44 games with the Detroit Red Wings in 2003-2004. He had 10 goals and 12 assists. But he's convinced there's more left in him, and he wants to prove it rather than earn a spot because another hopeful faltered.
''I want to make this (team) because I'm playing my best hockey and I'm contributing to this team so they think I can play here,'' he said. ''If I don't make this hockey team it's because I didn't put the effort forth to do it.
''I want to earn my spot here. I want to be a guy this team can count on every night.''
Wellwood scored again at 19:45 of the second, and he should send Mark Streight a thank-you card in appreciation for the terrible pass the Swiss defenceman attempted from the back boards in his own end. The puck dribbled to Wellwood, who slapped it through traffic and into the net.
Wellwood says he wouldn't be heartbroken to begin the season in the minors.
''I've got a lot of time,'' he said. ''I'm young.
''It won't be that big a deal to me if I get sent down. Either way, I'll be fine.''
Plekanec made it 4-2 with a power-play goal at 4:51. He had an open side of net to aim at after a terrific pass from Rivet. Plekanec, a Czech, scored 29 goals for the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs last season.
Dagenais scored from a scramble with 3.5 seconds remaining.
The crackdown on obstruction continued. There were 19 power plays - Toronto went 1-for-11 and Montreal 2-for-8. During the NHL's last regular season, there was an average of nine power plays a game.
Notes: The Leafs didn't use Ed Belfour, Jeff O'Neill, Eric Lindros, Tie Domi, Wade Belak or Aki Berg, and Jason Allison (hip flexor) and Ken Klee (ankle) remained out . . . Montreal sat out Jose Theodore, Saku Koivu, Alexei Kovalev, Richard Zednik, Michael Ryder, Radek Bonk, Sheldon Souray and Mathieu Dandenault . . . The two teams meet again Saturday night in Montreal . . . The veteran Bulis had 49 points including 24 goals with Pardubice in his Czech homeland in 2004-2005 and Montreal GM Bob Gainey hopes he'll be just as productive this season. The most goals Bulis scored in any of his seven previous NHL seasons was 16 in 2002-2003 . . . Racine would have had a better chance to stop Bulis' shot had he moved out to the top of his crease. He was crouching back near the goal-line on other long shots, too. The 23-year-old native of St-Hyacinthe, Que., was Toronto's fourth pick, 90th overall, in 2000. He'll likely go back to the AHL farm . . . Danis has a chance to be the backup to Theodore this season because intended No. 2 Cristobal Huet is injured and out till December. Danis, 24, of St-Jerome, Que., was the No. 1 goalie for the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs in his rookie pro season last winter. He was never drafted and was a free agent when Montreal signed him in March 2004 at the end of his fourth U.S. college season at Brown . . . Price, 18, of Vancouver was Montreal's first choice, fifth overall, in the 2005 entry draft out of the WHL's Tri-City Americans.
