Milestone Night for Mats Sundin and Mark Giordano
Justin Dahan (HV)
Little did anyone know that a game between the Calgary Flames and
the Toronto Maple Leafs would provide so much scoring? Calgary being
a defensive minded team, and only scoring five goals in their first
four games. Common sense would say this game would be similar to the
Calgary – Ottawa game. Such was not the case. There were goals a plenty
in this all Canadian match up, not only goals but milestone goals. Mats
Sundin had a hat trick. The third of which being a short handed overtime
goal, and his 500th of his career. That would seem like enough of a
milestone but Sundin’s 500th goal was also his 365th goal as a member
of the Toronto Maple Leafs. This goal moved Sundin not only into an
elusive 500 goal club but into a tie with Dave Keon for the second most
goals as a Leaf. Darryl Sittler sits atop that list with 389 goals.
Darcy Tucker commented on Sundin’s milestone after the game saying,
“It’s special, I remember being on the ice for his 400th and that was
a special time, its like everybody was saying its only fitting he would
score that big huge goal in overtime he’s done it so many times before,
the boys are really happy for him, and it was nice to see that big ovation
from the crowd”
The Calgary Flames also had a player to reach a personal milestone.
Mark Giordano had played 11 NHL games in his career, and only recorded
one assist, but the undrafted defensemen changed all that when he recorded
not one but two goals. Giordano’s first goal seemed to spark the Flames.
At that time the Flames were down 2-0 but when Giordano cut that lead
in half the Flames seemed to pick up the offense when Matthew Lombardi
scored a garbage goal. Giordano added his second to give the Flames
a momentary lead when he got behind the Leafs defensemen and made a
move to expose Andrew Raycroft’s five hole and slid the puck through.
After the game you would expect for Giordano to be all smiles at scoring
his first two NHL goals but that was not the case. When asked if he
was excited about scoring his first NHL goals he replied, “I am excited
but I don’t know, obviously I was thrilled to get my first but I would’ve
preferred the win” This young man is such a competitor he almost talked
as if he were to blame for the loss. He talked about Sundin’s goal in
overtime, “I know the puck was rolling, I haven’t seen the replay but
I think it may have hit my skate” Giordano may have a great career ahead
of him; he certainly had a great game against the Maple Leafs.
The Leafs seem to be rolling along fine now, they have continued their
success on the power play from last year. Darcy Tucker added another
one of his patented side of the net goals after receiving a perfect
pass from Kyle Wellwood. I asked him about this play which was becoming
his bread and butter and he said, “Shh… be quiet about that one, we
don’t want to give our secrets away.” He went on to compliment Wellwood’s
play by saying, “He’s making good decisions with the puck.”
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