Sundin scores Shootout winner bury Leafs

I have to tell you, I really think Sundin misses being in Toronto. When Introduced last night, he received a standing ovation from the crowd at the ACC and even drew applause after scoring the wining goal in the shoot out that helped push the Canucks passed the Leafs 3-2



This entire game was a fast paced exciting affair that saw chance after chance at both ends of the ice Toronto out shot the Canucks 38-37 and both Toskala and Luongo made several brilliant, and lucky saves.

Blake scored the opening goal, and almost scored again on a play where Dominic Moore had a partial breakaway with a broken stick and passed the puck to Blake with his stick. If Blake had managed to score, the goal would have been on highlight reels everywhere for a long time.

Scoring the shootout winner with the entire Air Canada Centre crowd on its feet was one thing. But the most special moment of an entertaining evening came when Sundin was selected the first star and returned to the ice by himself.

He took a bow, blew kisses in the air and waved to the people who came to adore him over 13 memorable seasons with the Maple Leafs. There were even a few tears in his eyes as he skated off the ice in Toronto for what could be the final time as an NHL player.

“There’s been a buildup for this game,” Sundin said moments after giving the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 victory Saturday night. “All the battles and everything we’ve gone through over the last 13 years with the Leafs, so many ups and downs and disappointments and happiness. A lot of feelings came to mind on the ice.

“The ovation from the fans was very special. I’ll remember that the rest of my life.”

“It’s just one of those nights where you give (Sundin) a chance like that, you know he’s going to be able to score," added former Leaf and current Canuck Kyle Welwood.

While some fans chose to boo Sundin in his first game at the arena as a visiting player, he was mostly well-received. The longtime Leafs captain got choked up in the first period when he received a long standing ovation after a video tribute was played on the scoreboard.

“There were tears coming,” Sundin said. “That was very special.”

The ovation actually kept the game from starting up again.

Like everyone else in the building, the players on the ice simply watched Sundin rather than line up for the faceoff. Center Matt Stajan was out for the Maple Leafs and was in no hurry to take the draw.

“It was his moment—obviously, I was going to sit back and let him enjoy it,” Stajan said. “I wasn’t going into the faceoff circle before he did.

All in all, it was one of the best Leafs games that I've seen in while. They played fairly well defensively and had lots of jump offensively.

The Buds next action comes tonight when the travel to New York to take on the Rangers for an 8pm start. As always, you can hear the action live right here on Bench Brawl!