Do Or Die

Yesterday, the Leafs and Habs met at the ACC. It was possibly the biggest regular season matchup in the 2 teams history.

To the cheers of the ACC crowd, the Leafs started out great as they got 20 shots in on Huet before Bates Battaglia scored to give the Leafs the lead in this crucial game. Then, Chris Higgins out muscled Pavel Kubina and deked out Tomas Kaberle and beat Raycroft to tie up the game. Before the period could end though. Mats Sundin threw one at the net from almost the goal-line and was tipped in by Nik Antropov. The Leafs ended the period with the shots 25-9 in their favor. Early in the 2nd, Toronto scored another goal, this one from Alex Steen to give the Leafs a 2-goal lead. Cue the comeback for the Habs. 1st, Micheal Ryder scored 36 seconds after Steen's goal to get the Habs within 1. Then, on the powerplay Ryder scored another of a big rebound from Raycroft. Finally, Ryder completed the hat-trick on a wrap-around that squeezed through Raycroft to give the Habs their 1st lead of the game. That lat goal by Ryder spelled the end of Raycroft's night as he was pulled for J.S Aubin. The goalie change didn't help though as Chris Higgins scored to give the Habs a 2 goal lead. With the Leafs disorganized, it looked like Montreal would take the lead into the break. But, Carlo Coliacavo scored on a knuckle-ball from the point. Before the period would end Montreal took 2 penalties, 1 of them a double-minor to give the Leafs a 2-man advantage going into would could be the final period their season. It didn't take long for the Leafs to score as Bryan McCabe potted one from the point to tie it up. Then, with the Leafs still enjoying part of a double-minor, Saku Koivu tripped up Kyle Wellwood, and went to the box for it. On the next play, Tomas Kaberle fired one to the net and got tipped by Wellwood to give the Leafs the lead. The Habs then turned it on for the last 16 minutes. But the Leafs playes good defence and held off the Habs to win it 6-5. Montreal is now eliminated from playoff contention and the Leafs are in 8th spot. They need a win by New Jersey tomorrow to get into the playoffs. One problem though is that the Devils may not start Brodeur.

'I got to go to church Sunday,'' Leafs defenceman Bryan McCabe said Saturday night after a huge 6-5 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

''The biggest church day of the year is Easter Sunday. I know I'll be there with my wife and kid and I'll be praying.''