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Leafs find success in chemistry Justin Dahan (HV) The preseason is all about Chemistry, finding chemistry and creating chemistry. Let’s face it a team can have a bunch of stars and still not go very far without chemistry see the New York Rangers pre lockout year (2003-04). The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens were in different stages of finding that special chemistry as they would face off and find out on Friday, September 22 for a preseason game.
For the Toronto Maple Leafs chemistry was coming naturally. Maple Leafs head coach Paul Maurice had decided to move natural center Kyle Wellwood to the wing to play with Mats Sundin. Paul Maurice said he liked what he had seen from these two on the power play in previous preseason matches and was ready to try them out for a game.
On the flip side of the table the Montreal Canadiens were struggling to find a good chemistry. The line of Mike Ribeiro, Alex Kovalev, and Sergei Samsonov had trouble adapting to each others style and couldn’t find a good chemistry between them. Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau decided to keep the line together; he said that they would gain chemistry from playing together.
Mats Sundin and Kyle Wellwood looked great together throughout the game. They had many scoring chances and Sundin had a goal and two assists while Wellwood had two assists. The two had great chemistry along with line mate Alexei Ponikarovsky and led the Maple Leafs to a 5-1 victory against the Montreal Canadiens. Darcy Tucker, John Pohl, Alexsander Suglobov, and Alexei Ponikarovsky had the other goals for the Leafs. While Brad Leeb, Andy Wozniewski, and Kris Newbury all picked up assists.
Montreal ’s top line, of Mike Ribeiro, Alex Kovalev, and Sergei Samsonov looked lost. At one point Alex Kovalev skated into Mike Ribeiro while trying to enter the zone. They played so poorly together, Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau had to separate the line. Once separated only Mike Ribeiro was able to create any scoring chances. Ribeiro looks as if he has found new life after his disappointing season last year. Jonathan Ferland picked up Montreal ’s only goal. The assists went to Dan Jancevski, and Alexander Perezhogin.
After the game Kyle Wellwood spoke about his first game on the wing. He said, “I was comfortable on the wing. I don't know how long it will last, but I definitely enjoyed it” Paul Maurice also had accolades for Kyle Wellwood’s game, he said, “"I really like how smart Kyle is; he's a very gifted thinker on the ice," said Maurice.”He's capable of getting the puck to Mats." Mats Sundin also had comments on the chemistry between him and Kyle Wellwood. He talked a little on the success he and Wellwood had on the power play, “Hopefully we can continue, I thought last year we did a lot of good things on the power play, we tried to keep it really simple, we get a lot of shots on the power play and hopefully we can keep doing that”
Right now things are looking up for the Leafs. They have captured the chemistry that has eluded so many others including their opponents, the Montreal Canadiens.
*Notes: Staffan Krownall suffered an injury when falling into the boards awkwardly in the first period of Friday’s preseason action. He is though to have a sprained or strained ankle.
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