CanWest News Service: Toskala was on the bench and an extra attacker was on the ice when Ponikarovsky shoveled a loose puck past Hedberg. Sundin and Blake assisted on the game-tying goal, as both players each recorded three points.
«We lost the game, but that's a good thing that we always fight back," said Ponikarovsky. «We always fight to the end. We're going to win games that way.»

Toronto Star: But some of the same old problems continued to haunt the club. Sloppy defensive zone coverage, combined with Kovalchuk's sublime skills, allowed the Atlanta winger to skate around like he was in a river hockey game. Needless penalties also undercut Toronto's performance. Maurice benched Ponikarovsky for the rest of the second period after he took a high sticking penalty at just over 12 minutes into the middle frame.
«That's basically where we're going to get to," said Maurice. «If we have to put our best players on the bench to make that point, we're going to make it.»

The Sports Network: Alexei Ponikarovsky had the lone tally for Toronto, which has also been beset by injuries, playing minus the services of top defenseman Bryan McCabe and young center Kyle Wellwood.
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Toronto tied it up just 31 second later as Jason Blake dropped the puck down low to Mats Sundin, who then dished to Ponikarovsky in front. The left winger, camped just off the crease, easily knocked home the disc to make it a 1-1 game.

Sports Network: Matt Stajan's goal with 1:34 left in regulation lifted Toronto past Montreal, 3-2, at the Bell Centre.
Tomas Kaberle and Mats Sundin also scored for the Maple Leafs, who halted a two-game losing streak and have now won three of five.
Alexei Ponikarovsky added two assists and Vesa Toskala made 32 stops for the win.
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The Leafs were given the game's first power play, and scored the first goal when Kaberle one-timed a puck, sent by Ponikarovsky, off the left boards and past an unscreened Huet 1:18 into the contest.
Montreal tied the score with 3:14 left in the period, as Komisarek's right- point shot was tipped home by accident off Ponikarovsky's stick.

Toronto Star: By the third period, Raycroft might have been in the Sabres' heads. At that point, Sabres forwards tried to make pretty dekes or extra passes rather than just shoot.
And then it was the Sabres, pinching, who were giving up the big plays. Sundin made them pay, finishing a 3-on-2 with a wrist shot to beat Miller at 2:54. Tomas Kaberle and Alexei Ponikarovsky picked up assists on the rush.

CBC: Alexei Ponikarovsky countered with his own second-period flurry starting at the 16:54 mark.
Just as a Leafs' power play expired, Antropov carried the puck into the Rangers' zone in a play that appeared to be offside. But play continued as Antropov found a wide-open Ponikarovsky in the right circle. The forward rifled a quick, high shot to the short side that eluded Valiquette and pulled the Leafs to within a goal, at 2-1.
Exactly two minutes later, Ponikarovsky struck again by burying a loose puck during a scramble in the Rangers' crease for his sixth goal of the season at the 18:54 mark to tie the game at 2-2.
«We had momentum and were pumped up and cheering for each other," Ponikarovsky said of his team's rally. «I was sure we were going to score another one.»

Sports Network: Metropolit extended Boston's lead to 3-1 with 9:44 remaining in the second when he came out from behind the net and snapped a shot over Raycroft's left shoulder.
Ponikarovsky responded 1:41 later to trim the lead to 3-2. Mats Sundin's attempted tip-in went wide of the net, but he gathered the puck and fired it on goal from a sharp angle. Ponikarovsky was standing outside the crease, corralled the loose puck and wristed it behind Thomas.

CanWest: The Leafs came out strongly in the opening period and took an early 1-0 lead on Alexei Ponikarovsky's eighth goal of the season. Wozniewski made a fine play by keeping the puck in along the left-wing boards and fed captain Mats Sundin behind the net. Sundin found Ponikarovsky uncovered in front of veteran netminder Marty Turco and the Leafs' winger made no mistake with a one-timer from 15 feet.

Globe and Mail: «They got on us pretty quickly and you always expect that here," said Crosby, who picked up an assist Erik Christensen's power-play goal with 2:02 remaining in the third period to make the Air Canada Centre crowd of 19,534 somewhat uneasy until Alexei Ponikarovsky's empty goal in the final minute.

CBC Sports: Ponikarovsky put the game away for Toronto in the third period with two goals.
With 3:19 left in the game, Antropov earned another assist on Ponikarovsky's shot that sailed over the left shoulder of Lehtonen.
Ponikarovsky struck again after converting a pass from Antropov with 2:01 remaining.
Ponikarovsky returned after being cut by a second-period hit from Atlanta centre Bobby Holik. The Leafs winger was knocked face-down to the ice by the blow from Holik and was slow to get up.
«I got stitched up," Ponikarovsky said. «I felt OK and I was OK to play.
«I wasn't happy, to be honest with you. In my opinion, it was a clear hit to the head. It's not nice to do that. I want to see a replay. I didn't see him coming at all.»

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