Leafs Searching for Answers

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in quite a power outage.The power play is struggling and the Leafs are coming up empty offensively … period.
The power play had been a strong point for the Maple Leafs in the early going of the season but has hit the skids and it is no surprise that the wins have also been hard to come by in the last week.Saturday against the red-hot Dallas Stars it wasn’t any different as the Leafs lost 2-1 – leaving head coach Pat Quinn experimenting with his lines looking for answers.“We were searching for something to give us some offence,” Quinn said. “Generally the only offence we were getting was from young (Kyle) Wellwood who had a couple of spurts but other than that we weren’t getting much. Typical of us as of late we’re playing very individually and still never put any pucks at the net, over pass and try risky plays all in an effort to try and get some offence.” The Leafs used the man advantage to win many games in the first two months largely by having Bryan McCabe one-time defence partner Tomas Kaberle’s perfect passes.Teams have now taken McCabe’s blast away by having a forward shadow him on the point and the Leafs haven’t been able to adjust. Against the Stars the Leafs tried to have McCabe slide down low but the Stars covered extremely well and the Leafs couldn’t get much though for goalie Marty Turco to handle.Over the last five games the Leafs are five for 38 on the power play. Looking at those numbers a little more closely, the Leafs scored three power-play goals in a 4-0 win over Atlanta and have scored two in the other four games.Captain Mats Sundin felt Quinn had no choice but to alter things with his combinations and he’s mystified at the offensive struggles, especially on the power play.“I wish I knew,” Sundin said when asked why the power play can’t score. “I would’ve corrected it. We’re not getting pucks through, they’re playing higher on Bryan and Tomas.”On the first power-play unit at the start of the game, Quinn had Sundin with Jason Allison and Alex Steen with McCabe and Kaberle manning the point. His second unit had Eric Lindros, Darcy Tucker and Nik Antropov with Alexander Khavanov and Ken Klee. These combinations didn’t produce any goals and in the third period, Quinn desperately tried to get his offence jump started by changing the lines again.Lindros was moved to the wing to play with Sundin and Tucker. Steen was moved to a line with Tie Domi and Wellwood who yet again dazzled with his quick moves as he had two great chances in the second period to but couldn’t put the Leafs on the board. The Leafs don’t have much time to get ready for the next Pacific Division opponent as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are here on Monday. After that the Leafs are off until next Saturday when they travel to Ottawa to take on the Senators. With all those practice days after Monday’s game Quinn will be back at the drawing board trying to figure out a way to get the Leafs back on track.

Leafs Captain Launches Street Buds Program

Toronto Maple Leafs Captain Mats Sundin will launch the 2005-06 Maple Leaf Street Buds program sponsored by Esso on Sunday at Wellesley Community Centre. In its eleventh year, the program gives boys and girls between the ages of six and 16 years the opportunity to play organized street-style hockey in a safe and fun environment.As honourary captain of the Street Buds program, Sundin will coach Street Buds participants and demonstrate various hockey skills. The Street Buds will also have an opportunity to match the Swedish forward’s skills in several interactive zones for passing, shooting, goaltending and stick handling.“Maple Leaf Street Buds is a great program on many levels — it recognizes the value of positive reinforcement in youth skill development and provides kids who would not normally have the opportunity to play hockey access to the game and equipment,” said Sundin. Besides emphasizing skill and healthy child development, the program also promotes the importance of teamwork and physical fitness. "For the last eleven years, the success of the Esso Street Buds program would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of many individuals," said Karen Fraser, manager of sponsorships at Imperial Oil. "The Esso Volunteer awards recognize Toronto Street Buds staff and volunteers who exemplify leadership and an extraordinary commitment to the youth involved in the Street Buds program.”
Launched in 1995, the Esso Maple Leaf Street Buds program provides more than 3,500 Toronto children an opportunity to develop their hockey skills, keep fit and have fun. Awarding participants monthly for sportsmanship and fair play, the program oversees 30 organized hockey games organized at Toronto Parks and Recreation community centres and public schools each season. The Esso Maple Leaf Street Buds program is an initiative supported by Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Development, which increases the access, opportunity and skill development of youth in hockey throughout Ontario and Canada. Visit the community development page for more information.

Leafs Share in Spirit of the Season

With the holiday season here, Toronto Maple Leafs players will get into the spirit of giving as they lend their time and support to a wide range of community initiatives and programs throughout December.
Leafs Captain Mats Sundin was joined by Leafs mascot Carlton the Bear to launch the eleventh season of Esso Maple Leaf Street Buds at Wellesley Community Centre on Sunday, December 4. Supported by Leafs Hockey Development, this program provides youth between the ages of six and 16 years the opportunity to play organized street-style hockey in a safe and fun environment.
On Thursday, December 8, Leafs Matt Stajan and Wade Belak will visit the students of Morse Street School as part of the TD Waterhouse Leafs @ School program. Aimed at students in Grades 4 to 6 and aligned with the current Ontario school curriculum, Leafs @ School is a popular web-based education program that makes learning fun by using hockey in relation to core school subjects.
More than 65,000 Greater Toronto Area (GTA) students currently participate in Math with Mats Sundin, Language with Eric Lindros, Nutrition with Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle and the Leafs @ School Fitness Challenge — key Leafs @ School lesson plans that engage kids and motivate them to learn.
The very-popular Toronto Maple Leafs Skate for Easter Seals Kids takes place on Sunday, December 11 at Air Canada Centre in support of kids living with physical disabilities. Proceeds from the skate benefit The Easter Seal Society and the Leafs Fund. For a minimum $100 in pledges, hockey fans will get the opportunity-of-a-lifetime to skate with current Leafs players and alumni.
Leafs players will also visit with patients and their families at The Hospital for Sick Children on Tuesday, December 13 as they drop by Marnie’s Lounge, a recreational room inside the hospital that provides a wide variety of programming and activities for patients. Players will spend one-on-one time with the kids, sign autographs and tour hospital units.
“We recognize that the Leafs are in a unique position to be a positive influence in our community, particularly with children and youth,” said John Lashway, senior vice-president of communications and community development of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. “The personal time, energy and efforts of our players, coaches, alumni and community staff have had a tremendous impact for the many charities, organizations and agencies we support. We take our outreach responsibilities very seriously and appreciate the opportunity to give back to our community.”
The Leafs organization remains at the forefront of many social issues currently debated in the public forum. The team's active support and work in the community has helped raise much needed awareness for hot button issues such as health, wellness, child development active lifestyles, education, nutrition and youth self-esteem.
Creating community awareness inside Air Canada Centre is just as important to the Leafs. Fans attending the December 6 home game versus the Los Angeles Kings will have an opportunity to bid for some unique Christmas trees decorated by Leafs players and coaching staff as part of the Festival of Trees program. Trees will be decorated with items that range from autographed sports memorabilia to concert and sports tickets. All money raised benefits the Leafs Fund, the Raptors Foundation and the United Way.
While Leafs 50/50 volunteers continue to raise money through fan support during each home game for Leafs Dreams, an arts scholarship program that enables students to realize their talent and artistic potential.
Each season Leafs players, coaches and alumni work to support more than 100 community events and initiatives organized by the Leafs Fund, Leafs Community Relations and Leafs Hockey Development.
Leafs Hockey Development and Leafs Community Relations provide tens of thousands of children and youth in Ontario with opportunities to participate in innovative hockey and educational programs. The Leafs Fund is committed to responsible community leadership through access to sports and recreation, and encouraging health and wellness in the community. The Leafs Fund raises and disperses more than $1 million dollars to charities annually.