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If there is such a thing as momentum, you might say the fickle Toronto Maple Leafs have it on their side, sort of, as they head out on a three-game swing through Western Canada.Given up for dead earlier this month, the Maple Leafs salvaged their dented reputation with shootout victories last week over Boston and Washington and a regulation-time triumph over the tired Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
Mixed in with the euphoria were the usual lackluster performances in losses to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia at the Air Canada Centre when a disgruntled fan tossed a waffle on the ice to express his disgust with his beloved blue and white.
Given the way the season has gone, the Leafs grasped at whatever they could to boost their confidence as they continue to chase the goal of making the playoffs for the first time in a half-decade.
"You look at the whole week, and we did something," coach Ron Wilson said after the win over Montreal. "A lot of people said we would not win one of those games. We won three of them."
The victory over Washington was more the fault of the smug Capitals thinking they had the win all sewn up when they pulled ahead 4-1. Not that a three-goal rally is to be dumped on, but the Capitals deserved to get whacked at home more than the Maple Leafs deserved to win.
"You look at the whole week, and we did something," coach Ron Wilson said after the win over Montreal. "A lot of people said we would not win one of those games. We won three of them.''
-- Ron Wilson As for the victory over Montreal, the Canadians were playing the back end of two games in two nights when they face the Maple Leafs.
Montreal dispensed a lot of energy in the third period against Detroit when they outshot the Red Wings 19-3 in an attempt to get back in the game on the scoreboard.
Toronto is in Edmonton on Tuesday, Calgary on Thursday and Vancouver on Saturday, and the Maple Leafs have a 2-7 record in their last three Western Canada trips.
The Maple Leafs will be looking to do to the Oilers on their ice what Edmonton did to the Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre on Dec. 2.
The Leafs lost that game 5-0, and the game ended with cries to fire Wilson as head coach. General manager Brian Burke was quick to snuff out that fire.
The game in Calgary is the first time Leaf captain Dion Phaneuf will face the Flames since he was traded to the Maple Leafs in January.
Phaneuf's departure had the rumor mill working overtime and it was fueled with reports of alleged rifts with teammates and other issues.
"I don't know why there would be any negative (reaction)," said Phaneuf after Saturday's game about the reception he can expect at the Saddledome. "It wasn't my choice to move. Like I said, I had a lot of great times there and I made a lot of great friends out there. I played a lot of hockey in that building.
"I wouldn't expect (it to be) negative. But it's not me going to Calgary; it's about our team going to win a hockey game."
The games against Calgary and Edmonton are very winnable. Like the Leafs, the Oilers and Flames are on the outside looking in when it comes to being in a position to challenge for a playoff berth.
The Canucks, however, are a different story.
Either way, the Leafs can take solace in knowing there shouldn't be any unsatisfied fans ready to throw waffles on the ice.
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