Last place teams, teams in a slump, and teams that are offensively challenged all seem to find their groove against the Maple Leafs. The last place, slumping, offensively challenged Atlanta Thrashers came into Toronto looking for a win. These teams are always dangerous, especially against the Leafs. This game also marks the sixth in a row that the opposing team started their backup goalie.

Toskala got the start tonight. The game starts and in no time, Sundin whips around the net, and wraps around a quick goal. 13 seconds in for number 13. Great start, and looking good. Let’s keep this steamroller going. The teams go back and forth a bit, but the Leafs get sloppy. At 4:23 of the first, Tobias Enstrom wrists a shot through Toskala. Vesa should have had this one, and as all commentators say, he would like to have this one back. The rest of the first period was a battle on both sides, but Kovalchuk puts his Thrashers up by 1 at 19:27 of the first.

The second period starts, and the Leafs come out flying. They fire a total of 17 shots at Hedberg throughout the second frame. They are rewarded with 2 goals, 1 by Hal Gill and 1 by the hot Nik Antropov. The Thrashers also get one by Todd White to keep the game tied 3-3 by the end of the period.

The dreaded third period begins. At 2:50, Atlanta scored to go up by one. The Thrashers are skating circles around the Leafs. One more goal and the book is closed on the Leafs. The last 2 minutes of the third are frantic, and it’s the Maple Leafs creating the pressure. Most of their shots in the third, 9 in total, occur in these last few minutes. The clock counts down to 19:50, and Ponikarovsky finally gets the tying goal in a scramble and crash in front of the Atlanta net. It looked like the Leafs were done, but their persistence scored this goal.

Off to overtime. The Leafs actually managed to not take a penalty, but they also didn’t score in OT. Good news, neither did Atlanta. Now comes last years bane, the shootout. This is the first shootout for the Leafs this year, so let’s see how they manage.

The Leafs go first. The hot handed Antropov starts, skates down the ice, shoots, scores! Antropov has been the Leafs best goal scorer this year, so it comes as no surprise. Kozlov is next… Toskala makes the save. Sundin… shoots wide. Hossa…. saved. Blake… saved. Last skater for Atlanta… Kovalchuk. He skates, wrists it… goal.

Last place Atlanta gets their second win of the season. Of course it has to come against the Maple Leafs.