The Canadian Press
Toronto Maple Leafs' Wade Belak wears a balaclava to stay warm as he takes part in an outdoor team practice in Toronto yesterday.
Maple Leafs take their practice outside
Toronto's spirits improve after recent wins, team remains seven points out of eighth and final playoff qualifying spot
THE CANADIAN PRESS Published Tuesday February 12th, 2008
TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs, clinging to the notion they can still make the NHL playoffs, are entering a six-game segment of their schedule that will probably determine their fate.
The Leafs play in Buffalo tomorrow and then are home for five in a row, and they hope to ride the momentum gained from wins over Montreal and Detroit in their last two games to make a move up in the standings.
"Obviously we have to win a lot of games and we probably need to get help from some other teams to struggle down the stretch," says captain Mats Sundin. "You know, if we can play the way we did the last couple of games ... we'll have a chance."
It's a big IF.
Toronto has 25 games left and is seven points out of the eighth and final playoff qualifying position in the Eastern Conference. The odds are against the Leafs, and their inconsistency has already cost GM John Ferguson his job, but they haven't given up.
"It's nice to come to the rink and see the guys joking around with each other a little bit," head coach Paul Maurice said after the team's annual outdoor practice yesterday.
It was, brrrrr, minus-10 as the players scrimmaged on a sheet of gleaming ice just east of downtown to promote the club's participation with The Home Depot in refurbishing outdoor rinks in the city. Bundled-up school children sprung from classes so they could get a close-up look at their hockey heros waved Leafs flags and cheered every pass and shot on goal.
"It was a good time," said Matt Stajan. "Our toes and fingers were a little cold but it's great for the kids and it brings back memories.
"We get treated really nice nowadays with all the arenas we play in and this brings you back to where you started. It's a lot of fun."
Most of the players wore balaclavas -- Wade Belak sported one that was florescent orange -- under their helmets to protect their necks from the cold.
"Whether you're Canadian or Swedish, we all were on outdoor rinks growing up," said Sundin. "The sun was out and it was amazing to see all the kids out there.
"We were more worried about them than ourselves."
About an hour after taking to the ice, the players lobbed pucks to spectators before slipping off the skates in a change room, pulling on running shoes, and walking up a path to a bus that took them back to Air Canada Centre. Kids squealed for autographs and Sundin and his teammates obliged as papers and pens were thrust towards them over a snow fence.
The recent wins have the players feeling good about themselves for a change.
"(The wins) should breed some confidence into our group knowing that we beat two really good hockey clubs the last week," said Sundin. "Hopefully we can keep it going."
Buoying their confidence is the return of injured regulars.
Defenceman Bryan McCabe has been back in the lineup for two games now after a broken left hand healed, Alex Steen returned Saturday after rehabbing a separated shoulder, and Alexei Ponikarovsky (dislocated shoulder) and Chad Kilger (personal reasons) hope to be back in action Wednesday.
"We're moving closer and closer to getting our room back and there's been a little bit of a good feeling in the locker-room that hasn't grown out of control," said Maurice.