• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

O'Neill's first goal hands Leafs victory over Flyers

Posted on: Tuesday, 11 October 2005, 23:21 CDT

TORONTO (Reuters) - Jeff O'Neill scored the game-winning goal at 7:34 of the third period to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a first win of the season, a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Air Canada Center on Tuesday.

O'Neill had missed the Leafs previous two games with a shoulder injury, but returned with a goal and an assist as Toronto improved to 1-1-2, one night after losing in a shootout to the Senators in Ottawa.

Mikael Tellqvist got a rare start in goal for the Maple Leafs and was sharp, stopping 31 shots as the Flyers (1-2-0) out-shot the Leafs 33-22.

Darcy Tucker opened the scoring for the Leafs at 7:38 of the first period, but Mike Knuble tied the game 10 minutes later, leaving the score tied 1-1 after 20 minutes.

Kyle Wellwood put Toronto ahead at 4:16 of the second period, but Simon Gagne again tied the game with 2:02 left in the second period.

O'Neill then fired the winner, a one-timer on the powerplay past Flyers goalie Robert Esche, for his first goal since signing as a Leaf in the summer after a trade from Carolina.

A native of Ontario, O'Neill wanted to play closer to home after his younger brother Donny was killed in a car crash in the summer.

"I knew that when I got my first one it was for him," said O'Neill, who pointed to the sky in tribute to his brother after the goal.

"It was pretty emotional."

Eric Lindros finished the scoring with his second goal of the season at 13:09 of the third period.

Esche was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:18 left, but the Flyers could not get any closer.

In Montreal, Daniel Alfredsson scored two goals as the Ottawa Senators beat the Canadiens 4-2 in a battle of previously unbeaten teams.

Zdeno Chara and Antoine Vermette also scored for Ottawa. Ray Emery made 27 saves.

Saku Koivu and Steve Begin scored for Montreal, while Jose Theodore made 28 saves.

In St Louis, Patrick Lalime made 32 saves as the Blues beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1.

Dean McAmmond, Jay McClement, Scott Young and Dallas Drake scored for the Blues.

Tyler Arnason scored for the Blackhawks. Nikolai Khabibulin made 19 saves.

In Dallas, Mike Modano had a goal and assist as the Stars beat the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2.

Antti Miettinen and Jussi Jokinen scored for the Stars. Marty Turco made 23 saves.

Denis Gauthier and Paul Mara scored for the Coyotes. David Leneveu made 20 saves.

Source: REUTERS

More News in this Category