It's been a frustrating season for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL club's many blue and white faithful.
The Leafs hope to end their recent struggles Friday night when they face a red-hot Dallas Stars squad in the Lone Star State.
Perhaps the last five games have been the most frustrating stretch of the season for Toronto as the Leafs have gone 1-2-2, including a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
Toronto led 2-0 after captain Mats Sundin's 11th goal of the season in the second period, but Boston scored three times in the final period for the win. Bryan McCabe gave the Maple Leafs the lead in the first period with a power-play goal.
"A game like tonight, where we are up two goals and let Boston get back into the game, it's certainly very disappointing," Sundin said. "It was an important game for us."
Toronto has given up 13 goals in their last four games.
"The frustration now is trying to get a good solid defensive game out of our team," coach Paul Maurice said. "We give up 25 shots, not a whole lot, but now we're not generating much offence at the other end."
The Leafs, who took in the Cowboys-Jets NFL game on Thursday, play 11 of the next 16 games on the road, where Toronto's record sits at 4-4-1.
This is the first time the teams have faced each other since Dallas won 2-1 on Dec. 10, 2005, in Toronto. The last meeting in Dallas was in 2003.
Friday's hosts are looking to close out their five-game homestand by extending their longest winning streak of the season.
Since firing general manager Doug Armstrong and replacing him with former Star Brett Hull and assistant GM Les Jackson, Dallas has won three straight, outscoring its opponents 11-2 during that stretch.
The Stars are coming off a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. The Stars trailed 1-0 entering the third period, but Mike Modano tied the game with a power-play goal and Niklas Hagman had the go-ahead score less than a minute later.
"It was tight. There weren't many opportunities out there," Modano said. "We said let's just get the first one (goal) and tie it up. When we did, the momentum changed."
Modano was honoured before the game for surpassing Phil Housley's points record of 1,232 for American-born players. His third-period score was his sixth goal of the season.
"It was a big thrill," Modano said. "A lot of people who influenced me and were big parts of my life were here. The list is a mile long."
After Friday night's contest against Toronto, the Stars begin a six-game road trip — their longest of the season.
Dallas figures to continue to use Mike Smith in net on Friday. Smith, the backup for Marty Turco, won his third consecutive start since the management changes on Wednesday.
More Hockey Headlines »
- Canadiens hope to regain their touch on the road
- Montreal Canadiens are in Tampa on Thursday night trying to regain some recent lost form on the road, while the Lightning hope to get back on the home horse after slipping lately.
- Islanders bring improving offence into Ottawa
- The resurgent New York Islanders look for their fourth straight win when they visit the Eastern Conference-leading Senators on Thursday at Scotiabank Place.
- Madison Square Garden settles cheerleader lawsuit
- Madison Square Garden has settled a lawsuit with a former New York Rangers cheerleader who sued for sexual discrimination, avoiding the potential of another embarrassing trial.
- Leafs lose Islander game, Toskala
- Mike Comrie scored with nine seconds left in overtime as the New York Islanders topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in a game where both clubs resorted to using their backup goaltenders.
- Senators cool off surging Sabres
- Dany Heatley notched three points — including an empty-net goal — for the Ottawa Senators as the Eastern Conference leaders snapped the Buffalo Sabres' six-game winning streak with a 5-3 road win Wednesday night.
More Sports Headlines »
- Canadiens hope to regain their touch on the road
- Montreal Canadiens are in Tampa on Thursday night trying to regain some recent lost form on the road, while the Lightning hope to get back on the home horse after slipping lately.
- Islanders bring improving offence into Ottawa
- The resurgent New York Islanders look for their fourth straight win when they visit the Eastern Conference-leading Senators on Thursday at Scotiabank Place.
- Madison Square Garden settles cheerleader lawsuit
- Madison Square Garden has settled a lawsuit with a former New York Rangers cheerleader who sued for sexual discrimination, avoiding the potential of another embarrassing trial.
- Leafs lose Islander game, Toskala
- Mike Comrie scored with nine seconds left in overtime as the New York Islanders topped the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in a game where both clubs resorted to using their backup goaltenders.
- Senators cool off surging Sabres
- Dany Heatley notched three points — including an empty-net goal — for the Ottawa Senators as the Eastern Conference leaders snapped the Buffalo Sabres' six-game winning streak with a 5-3 road win Wednesday night.
Sports Features
- NBARaptors Basketball
- Sun, Jan. 6 at 1:00 pm ET: Cleveland at Toronto
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window
