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BOX SCORE
TORONTO (AP) -- General manager Pat Quinn found a new player for
the Toronto Maple Leafs last week. This week, coach Pat Quinn found
a new line.
|  | | Toronto's Dmitri Kristich, center, celebrates his first goal of the season with Mike Johnson, left, and Tomas Kaberle. |
Dmitri Khristich got his first points for Toronto with a goal
and an assist, and Curtis Joseph made 17 saves for his second
shutout of the season as the Leafs defeated the injury-riddled
Dallas Stars 4-0 Monday night.
Khristich, who signed with Toronto last week, and linemates Mike
Johnson and Nik Antropov combined for six points in just their
second game as a unit.
"They have the skills that can blend with one another to
produce a good threesome instead of three good onesomes," Quinn
said. "We'll leave them together for a while and see how they
develop."
Johnson also had a goal and an assist for Toronto, while rookie
Antropov assisted on both goals.
"I felt really good out there and, with time, we're going to
get even better," said Khristich, who played the last two years in
Boston. "I'm getting close to 100 percent."
Khristich became a free agent after the Bruins refused to pay
him the $2.8 million he was awarded by an arbitrator in August.
Steve Thomas and defenseman Tomas Kaberle also scored for the
Leafs.
The Stars played without seven regulars: Darryl Sydor (groin),
Richard Matvichuk (knee), Joe Nieuwendyk (back), Shawn Chambers
(knee), Jere Lehtinen (ankle) and Grant Marshall (groin).
Dallas went with three rookie defensemen -- Brad Lukowich, Alan
Letang and Richard Jackman -- and paid the price.
"We didn't play well at all," said Stars center Mike Modano,
who was held without a shot on goal. "It was probably our worst
game of the season. We had no flow in the game. It felt like we
were constantly chasing the puck."
Johnson opened the scoring 2:08 into the game when he put in a
rebound of Antropov's shot. Thomas made it 2-0 at 13:34 when took a
pass from Yanic Perreault, waited for Belfour to commit and snapped
the puck over the goalie's right shoulder.
It was Thomas' first goal in 11 games this season.
"I knew they were going to come at some point," he said.
"People may look at the fact that I'm not playing with (injured)
Mats Sundin is the problem, but I've been getting some pretty good
chances."
Kaberle scored with 7:58 left in the game.
"We were not competitive," said Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock.
"You have to fight through things. It had nothing to do with injuries."
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Dallas Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Alexander Karpovtsev scores on the power play.
avi: 625 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Dmitri Khristich gets his first goal of the season. (Courtesy: TSN)
avi: 545 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Mike Johnson fires a shot pass Ed Belfour for the score. (Courtesy: TSN)
avi: 673 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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