Seven-game road trip? No sweat, Vesa Toskala says.
The Maple Leafs goalie, whose improved play has helped key his team's recent resurrection, insists he's ready to shoulder the load as Toronto opens a 13-day jaunt Friday in Atlanta (7:30 p.m. ET).
Vesa Toskala, right, has seized the Leafs' No. 1 goalie job from Andrew Raycroft.
(Paul Connors/Associated Press)
With Toskala getting the nod over the ineffective Andrew Raycroft in each of the Leafs' last six games, Toronto (13-12-6) won five, exorcising the demons of its preceding four-game losing streak that had fans and media howling for a front-office shakeup.
"Sometimes you need an absurd amount of pressure to get things going," Leafs coach Paul Maurice said. "So absurd that you think the entire game of hockey will be called off based on the way the Leafs are playing. It helps put things in perspective."
Now that the Toronto ship has been righted — at least for now — Maurice is likely to lean on Toskala as long as he stays hot during the team's voyage, which doesn't conclude until Dec. 27 in Philadelphia.
Toskala, who is 5-1-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average in his last six starts, insisted after Thursday's practice that he's ready for the increased responsibility and doesn't mind taking care of business away from the comforts of home.
"We've been playing pretty well on the road, so it doesn't make me nervous at all," said Toskala, who is 3-0-1 with a 2.46 GAA in four career starts against Atlanta.
The Leafs may be able to avoid some road weariness by the parcelling of their swing into three separate trips. They'll fly home after facing Montreal on Saturday (CBC, 7 p.m. ET) and again for Christmas after playing Florida on Dec. 22.
Toronto sent itself off in style Monday, pounding the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 6-1. Jason Blake started a four-goal spurt in the second period and Chad Kilger added a pair of goals in the lopsided win.
"The confidence level on this team is high," said Leafs forward Kyle Wellwood, who had two assists.
Recchi makes immediate impact
Toronto could get another chance to fill the nets Friday against a Thrashers team that has allowed 11 total goals in its last two games, both losses, against Washington and Boston.
Despite erasing a 2-0 deficit with three straight goals, Atlanta (14-15-1) was outscored 2-0 in the third period in a 5-3 loss to the Bruins on Wednesday.
"We were right where we needed to be," coach Don Waddell said. "We knew the first period was their best period, and the third period is usually ours. We put ourselves in position to win the game."
Mark Recchi, picked up off waivers from Pittsburgh on Saturday, scored twice in his Thrashers debut. The 19-year veteran had only a pair of goals in 19 games with the Penguins.
"I feel very comfortable with the hockey club already," Recchi said. "I hope to continue to help and help us get some wins."
Marian Hossa had two assists in the defeat, giving him three goals and six assists during a seven-game point streak.
Ilya Kovalchuk — the league leader with 24 goals — has four goals and four assists in his last six games against Toronto.
The Thrashers had won four straight against the Maple Leafs before that streak ended on Nov. 29 with a 4-2 Leafs win in Atlanta.
With files from the Associated PressRelated
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