Monday 17 October 2011

Photos: Colorado Avalanche vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO — For the first time in team history, the Avalanche won all five games of an uninterrupted road trip with a 3-2 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.
David Jones scored at 1:11 of overtime, putting home the rebound of a Kyle Quincey shot. The Avs swept the five-game road swing and now are first in the Western Conference.The Colorado Avalanche have won their first four games on a five game road trip. They are 4-1, and are tied for the most points in the NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are 3-0, and are tied for first in the Northeast Division.

It's safe to say that no one saw this coming.

Though it's still early in the season, the two most surprising teams in the NHL so far this season meet up at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Leafs forward Phil Kessel is enjoying a ridiculous start to the season, as his eight points (with five goals) is tied for the league lead -- and with only three games played. His linemate Joffrey Lupul, acquired via trade last season from the Anaheim Ducks, has also been a standout.

In net, James Reimer has a .927 SV% combined with a 2.33 GAA. The second year goaltender was awarded a three year contract extension this offseason after a strong rookie campaign, and he has continued right where he left off last spring.

But the real story of this game is the list of players facing their former teams. John-Michael Liles played seven seasons with Colorado, and was one of the team's leading scorers last season. He was traded to Toronto immediately before the NHL Entry Draft for a second round pick. Philippe Dupuis was Colorado's fourth line center last season, and signed with the Leafs as a free agent.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere was part of the goaltending tandem last season in Toronto with Reimer, but signed with Colorado as a free agent this past summer. Giguere will get the start in net against his former club after having an incredibly easy debut against the Ottawa Senators, stopping 15 of the 16 shots he faced

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