Rocky Mountain News: After failing to take advantage of a brief five-on-three power play in the third period, Liles scored his second goal, at 6:22, to put the Avalanche in front 3-1.
Marek Svatos beat Toronto's Alexei Ponikarovsky to the puck along the boards and slipped the puck to Liles breaking down left wing. Liles fired the puck by goalie Andrew Raycroft, beating him to the short side.

TSN: Ponikarovsky got a breakaway pass from Ian White and, just before he got to Lundqvist, he pulled the puck to his backhand to flip it into the top mitt-side corner of the net for a 2-1 Toronto lead at 17:56.

London Free Press: Sundin said he let the puck get too far ahead of him on his chance and his Swedish national team pal Henrik Lundqvist was not fooled when Sundin went upstairs. Alexei Ponikarovsky tried to sell Lundqvist on the same backhand move he used on a first-period breakaway goal, but couldn't switch to his forehand. Two-goal man Darcy Tucker also came up empty on Lundqvist, who made 34 stops in all.
The Leafs are now 1-3 in shootouts this year, 4-10 since last season.
«Yes, it's a big issue," Ponikarovsky said. «But we want to concentrate on doing the right things in our game through three periods, so we can win in regulation.»

Toronto Sun: In the realm of hockey prospects, there are no hard and fast rules. No timetables.
On the one hand, you have a Tomas Kaberle, whose selection was buried deep in the 1996 NHL draft, yet two years later he was a fixture on the Maple Leafs defence and has remained there since, no special handling required.
On the other hand is an Alex Ponikarovsky, a player with obvious physical attributes who has required plenty of patience. He was drafted in 1998 but only in the last couple of years has the big Ukrainian winger begun to deliver on that promise.
Judging by the way Ponikarovsky has bolted out of the gate this season, the reward for all that patient nurturing by the Leafs organization could be rather large. At the very least, they may have finally found the long-sought quality winger for captain Mats Sundin.
With 19 points in 16 games this year, Ponikarovsky has become an important piece in the Maple Leafs puzzle. After years of speculation that he could be more than he was, suddenly he is everything the Leafs could have hoped for.

National Post: It seems natural that Ponikarovsky and Antropov would get along. Both are the same age, speak Russian and as teenagers, left home to live in Moscow and play for club team Dynamo.
«I was the veteran when he got there," joked Ponikarovsky, who had joined Dynamo in 1995, three years earlier than Antropov.
Ponikarovsky and Antropov were given the opportunity to continue playing together when they were both drafted by the Leafs in 1998.
Antropov, who was noted for his towering height and soft hands, was selected 10th overall. And Ponikarovsky, a speedster with size, was taken in the fourth round.
When both players left Moscow for Toronto, they became even closer while each struggled to learn English.
«Early on, it was an easier adjustment having him here [in Toronto]," Antropov said of Ponikarovsky. «It was just comfortable, having someone who spoke the same language.»

Canadian Press: Alexei Ponikarovsky sat in his stall at HSBC Arena in Buffalo on Wednesday night and quietly removed his equipment.
A few of his Toronto Maple Leaf teammates could be heard letting out there frustrations nearby after a 7-4 loss to the Sabres, but Pony was preaching patience.
Heading into games Friday in Washington and back at home Saturday against Boston, the Leafs winger feels the team is on the right track.
«We just have to play the next game the same way," said Ponikarovsky. «We need to stay positive and play that same game in Washington.»
...

Canadian Press: Mats Sundin is eager to resume a full leadership role.
So, expect the six-foot-five Swede to take the opening faceoff when the Leafs face the visiting Boston Bruins for the fourth time in nine games Tuesday night.
Kyle Wellwood and Alexei Ponikarovsky will likely be on his wings after Maurice reshuffled forward combinations in practice Monday in search of more offence after a 3-1 loss to the Bruins. Putting Sundin back where he belongs was common-sense casting.
Matt Stajan was between Darcy Tucker and Jeff O'Neill, Nik Antropov centred Mike Peca and Bates Battaglia, and Alex Steen was between Chad Kilger and John Pohl for practice.
...
Antropov and Ponikarovsky had meshed well as linemates.
«Ponikarovsky and Antropov will play together again this season at different times and probably during games when we can't seem to get anything going down low in the offensive zone," Maurice explained.

Canadian Press:

Kilger, Kubina and Ponikarovsky win individual honours in skills competitions

Chad Kilger was the fastest skater and had the hardest shot, Pavel Kubina won the shooting accuracy contest and Alexei Ponikarovsky was a shootout standout during the annual Toronto Maple Leafs skills contests Sunday.
Ponikarovsky edged Mike Peca and Alex Steen in the final round of the individual shootout drills.

TSN: - Change is definitely needed in Toronto, and the first step could be to shake up the lines. Since Mats Sundin returned to the lineup six games ago, Alexei Ponikarovsky has yet to record a point and is minus-6.

National Post: Alexei Ponikarovsky, who suffered a separated shoulder in practice last month, participated in his first team skate Wednesday. But Maurice cautioned the winger, who has 11 goals and 24 points, is still at least another week from coming off the injured reserve.