NHL
Scores/Schedules
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Players
Weekly lineup
Video Highlights

  Wednesday, Feb. 23 7:30pm ET
Leafs get long-awaited taste of victory
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

TORONTO (AP) -- Darcy Tucker finally has something positive to show for his brief stay with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tucker scored his first two goals for Toronto as the Maple Leafs beat Phoenix 5-3 on Wednesday night, snapping a season-high six-game winless streak.

"When I came in the room after the game, the guys were cheering for me, and that gives me a great sense of pride, not only about myself but about this hockey club," Tucker said.

"It just shows how close we are as a team. Hopefully, I've solidified any doubts about what I bring to a hockey team. I'm just a hard-working guy."

Tucker, acquired in Feb. 9 trade with Tampa Bay, gave the Maple Leafs a 3-2 lead with 3:52 left in the second period, diving head first into the crease to poke the puck past goalie Bob Essensa.

Tucker made it 4-2 with 8:25 left in the third period, deflecting Brian Berard's shot from the point into the top corner. Tucker has 16 goals this season.

Alyn McCauley, Jonas Hoglund and Yanic Perreault also scored for Toronto, 0-5-1 during the winless streak. Shane Doan, Jeremy Roenick and Teppo Numminen scored for the Coyotes.

Numminen scored with 3:14 left in the third to bring Phoenix within a goal, but Perreault countered with an empty-net goal with 53 seconds remaining.

Toronto's Curtis Joseph made 22 saves for his 26th victory.

"We put out some good pressure," Roenick said. "Cujo made some big, big saves. ... They got some timely goals -- we didn't."

Phoenix dropped a 1-0 decision in Montreal on Tuesday night.

"We think that we played two very solid games," Doan said. "We didn't make too many mistakes, but when we did they capitalized."

 


ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard

Phoenix Clubhouse

Toronto Clubhouse


RECAPS
Washington 3
Florida 2

Dallas 5
Detroit 2

Toronto 5
Phoenix 3

Nashville 4
Chicago 2

Los Angeles 7
Calgary 2

Edmonton 4
Boston 2

St. Louis 4
San Jose 1

Vancouver 4
Anaheim 4

AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 Darcy Tucker finds the back of the net, literally.
avi: 465 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1