Toronto Sun: No matter how hard Wilson pushes, how quick his players adapt to his system, no matter how many saves Vesa Toskala makes, this Leafs team, which has four points in five games, isn't going to do better than it is now. The season is early, but the blue and white is going to win only when it holds the opposition to one or two goals.
There is some skill on this squad, but little firepower. Mikhail Grabovski, who supposedly is super-skilled, has zero points in five games.
Ponikarovsky seems to be on another planet. Whipping boy Stajan doesn't seem to know whether he is coming or going. Ryan Hollweg can't help himself.

New York Post: Toronto tied the game again at 4-4 at 9:15 of the third, exploiting the Devils' fourth line, controlling the puck deep until Jamal Mayers flicked a rebound past Brodeur. Alexei Ponikarovsky put the Leafs back in front 1:10 later with their third power-play goal of the game, a routine left wing shot misplayed by Brodeur.

Globe and Mail: Forward Alexei Ponikarovsky missed practice yesterday because his wife gave birth to a son. Ponikarovsky is expected to play tonight.

SLAM! Sports: The Habs had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season and seem poised to challenge for that title again. The Toronto players know what to expect.
«They have a more skilled team than they had in previous years I believe," said Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky. «They have some young guys with skill that can skate and create some stuff.
«For us, we're a hard-working team, so we're going to play our game and grind them down.»
The 28-year-old winger was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, but has come to understand the importance of the Montreal-Toronto rivalry.
Ponikarovsky has spent parts of eight seasons with the Leafs and looks forward to games against the Habs just like many of his teammates.
«It's the battle of Canada," he said. «It's been like that for years.»

Sports Network: Niklas Hagman scored twice, as the Toronto Maple Leafs rolled over the Montreal Canadiens, 6-3, in the annual Hall of Fame Game.
Nik Antropov had a goal and two assists, while Alexei Ponikarovsky, Pavel Kubina and Mikhail Grabovski each tallied a goal and assist for Toronto, which snapped a three-game losing streak.
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With the Canadiens still down two goals, Ponikarovsky added a late tally to all but seal the game. On a 2-on-1 rush, he took the puck on the right side, and worked a backhand-forehand move around Price for a goal with 3:28 left, and Toronto held on from there.

THE CANADIAN PRESS: Stajan feels he has started to develop some real chemistry with linemates Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky.
«I think our line, we're rolling and we're playing with confidence," Stajan said. «It's resulting in a lot of goals and we know we've got to do that on a nightly basis to give ourselves the chance to win.
«It's a pretty simple game when you keep it simple and you go to the net and you're playing with (Antropov) and (Ponikarovsky), they go to the net, they're big bodies and they can find the puck when there's a scramble in front and right now we're really clicking.»

Globe and Mail: In the spirit of the hard-hitting Clark, Toronto centre Mikhail Grabovski was nailed in front of the Leafs bench by Blackhawks forward Ben Eager. Grabovski went head-first into the boards, but was unhurt. Leafs left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky came to his teammate's defence, but received the only penalty on the play for roughing.
When Ponikarovsky exited the penalty box, he was in on a play that set up a goal from defenceman Pavel Kubina. He beat Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibbulin with a floater from the high slot.
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Stajan redeemed himself with a power-play goal in the second period, and Dominic Moore made it 3-0 with a seeing-eye backhand rebound. After Sharp's goals, Ponikarovsky scored a softy to restore the two-goal lead.