Boyes has four point effort in 7-4 win; Hodson shines after return from Europe
Now before I begin, I want to point out that due to some family commitments, I was unable to make the Flames-Leafs series at Mile One Stadium. However, despite my absence, the St. John’s Maple Leafs are now only five points out of a playoff spot as the team had solid performances from Jamie Hodson and Brad Boyes with 7-4 and 3-0 wins in important games against the Flames. Jamie Hodson, back after an appearance at the Sweden Games, showed that he belonged in St. John’s with two exemplary performances, making 51 saves in a 7-4 win and a 41 save performance in a 3-0 shutout. He also stayed in the second game after an errant puck hit the young goalie in the throat.
In the 7-4 Leafs win, Brad Boyes scored a goal and
three assists to lead the Leafs attack. Alexei
Ponikarovsky and Dwayne Hay scored a pair of goals
each while Brad Leeb scored his 26th goal of the
season while Doug Doull added a single marker. The line of Brad Leeb, Brad Boyes and Alexei Ponikarovsky was a handful for the Flames defense all night, and totaled 9 points as a group. The only highlight for the Flames was a two goal performance by Chuck Kobasew, whose confidence seems to be soaring after a stint with Canada at the Sweden Games last week. Matt Lombardi and Martin Sonnenberg scored the other Flame goals.
Meanwhile, the 3-0 Leafs victory on Tuesday was
described by local reporters as the Leafs “best
defensive effort of the season”. It was especially
refreshing after a poor effort in the second game of
the Albany series, and it was noted that Chris
Chartier, Marc Moro (named first star) and Allan
Rourke all had strong games on the Leafs defence. Josh
Holden, Nathan Perrott and Alexei Ponikarovsky all
tallied for the Leafs. Mark Chaplin, playing in only
his second pro game after signing a tryout, earned an
assist on Perrott’s goal and may be heading with the
team on their road trip if Toronto does not assign
more players to the Rock. (perhaps Paul Healey?)
LEAFS NOTES
Congratulations to Mikael Tellqvist for being named
Molson Cup Winner for the month of January. Meanwhile,
Doug Doull was the Leafs booster club player of the
month.
Luca Cereda played the first game in the Flames series
but was still feeling the effects of back pain and sat
the second game. Other scratches were Craig Mills and
Dmitri Yakushin.
Congratulations to Flatrock Flyer Mark Chaplin for a
solid effort in emergency relief for the Leafs. The 6
foot 212 lb forward had a 21 goal, 54 pt season when
he played for Lou Crawford with the Belleville Bulls.
There is even talk that Chaplin may try to resume his
dream of playing in the pros. Good luck Mark!
Former Leaf Harold Druken has been recalled by the
Carolina Hurricanes.
Only 3,786 saw Wednesday’s game while 4,262 battled a stormy St. John’s to watch Tuesday night’s game. It was Ladies night on Tuesday as the Leafs gave away a trip to the Spa at the Monastery in the city, a great (and expensive) spot to relax.
