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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TORONTO (AP) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs earned a tie they could
live with.
|  | | Boston's Robbie Tallas writhes in pain after suffering a split fracture of the fourth finger on his glove hand. |
After facing a first-period deficit for the ninth time in 11
games, Toronto battled back and emerged with a 3-3 draw against the
Boston Bruins on Wednesday night. It was only a tie, yet it ended a
four-game losing streak for the relieved Maple Leafs.
"We've had problems with our confidence after losing like we
have recently," captain Mats Sundin said. "We played better as
the game went on and did everything we could to win. But we'll take
the tie for sure. Hopefully, we can build on it."
Nik Antropov and Yanic Perreault scored second-period goals to
erase a 2-1 deficit and give the Maple Leafs their first lead going
into the third period in seven games.
Dmitri Khristich scored for Toronto in the opening period and
assisted on Antropov's goal. Khristich, who wore a full face
shield, returned to the lineup to face his ex-teammates after
getting his three front teeth knocked out by a puck Saturday.
Andre Savage scored the tying goal for Boston at 6:32 of the
third. Joe Thornton and Shawn Bates also scored for Boston, which
tied for the sixth time in 15 games. The Bruins lead the NHL with
16 draws.
After 14 straight starts, Byron Dafoe almost got a night off in
the Boston goal. Rob Tallas, who played well in stopping 27 of 30
shots, left the game with 4:20 remaining in overtime after he hurt
his glove hand stopping a Bryan Berard slap shot. Dafoe made just
one save.
"It's a split fracture of the fourth finger, the exact same
injury I had earlier this year," Tallas said. "That's what
happens when they make goalie equipment smaller."
Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph was named a game star after making
30 saves.
"It was a better team effort," Joseph said. "If we keep
playing this way, we're going to win some games. Our forwards
played very gritty in our end."
The Bruins entered the game in 11th place in the Eastern
Conference and tried a new approach to open up the attack.
"Did you notice we're not trapping anymore?" asked Boston coach
Pat Burns. "We're sending two guys in to forecheck rather
than one. We had a lot more jump and some chances. We just have to
have some more finish around the net."
The Maple Leafs were 0-for-5 on the power play, including one in
the final 99 seconds of regulation time. Toronto has one power-play
goal in 31 opportunities in seven games.
Toronto is third in the Eastern Conference with a record of
30-21-7-3. Boston has just one win in seven games.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Montreal 5
Atlanta 1
Detroit 5
Vancouver 2
Florida 3
NY Rangers 0
Buffalo 1
Pittsburgh 1
Boston 3
Toronto 3
Los Angeles 4
Chicago 1
Dallas 3
Nashville 0
Anaheim 6
Calgary 5
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