http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/07/sports/s182750D09.DTL
Son of `Slap Shot' star scores in Toronto win
By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
(04-07) 18:35 PDT Newark, N.J. (AP) --
The son of one of the notorious Hanson brothers from the movie "Slap
Shot" scored his first NHL goal, and Martin Gerber played a spectacular
game with 47 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the suddenly
inconsistent New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Christian Hanson, the son of former hockey player turned actor Dave
Hanson, capped a stunning three-goal first period as the Maple Leafs
prevented New Jersey — at least momentarily — from wrapping up its
eighth Atlantic Division title, and third in four years.
Mikhail Grabovski, Jeff Hamilton and John Mitchell also scored for
Toronto, which won for only the second time in six games. Gerber had
given up 12 goals in his last two starts and the Maple Leafs' allowed
14 in the same span.
Against New Jersey, Gerber was a wall in front of his net.
Jamie Langenbrunner scored for New Jersey, which lost for the
seventh time in nine games, although this loss snapped a two-game
winning streak. The Devils outshot Toronto 48-18.
Grabovski and Hamilton scored in a 1:19 span midway through the
first period to stake Toronto to a 2-0 lead, and Hanson stretched the
margin to 3-0 with 4:04 left in the period.
The goal by the Notre Dame product wasn't a slap shot, however. The
23-year-old, who was playing in his third NHL game, calmly back-handed
the rebound of Jason Blake's shot past Brodeur and then celebrated with
teammates with a wide grin.
Hanson signed a two-year, entry-level deal with Toronto last week.
The Venetia, Pa., native had 16 goals and 15 assists in 37 games with
the Fighting Irish this season before turning pro.
Grabovski got the big period going for Toronto. The rookie stole
Colin White's pass around the boards, worked a give-and-go with Alexei
Ponikarovsky and beat Martin Brodeur from between the circles for his
20th goal.
Hamilton got his third after a Devils turnover in center ice. Boyd
Devereaux skated the puck into the Devils' end and Hamilton got his
third of the season after taking a pass from Jamal Mayers in the left
circle.
For most of the opening 39 minutes, Gerber stole the show. He
stopped the Devils' first 34 shots, including point-blank saves on
Brian Rolston and Travis Zajac late in the period, and one unbelievable
stop on Brendan Shanahan on the left doorstep of the crease with New
Jersey holding a 5-on-3 manpower advantage.
Langenbrunner scored with 1:07 left in the second period on the
Devils' sixth power play. Devereaux tried to skate the puck out of his
end instead of shooting it out and Paul Martin stole it and found
Langenbrunner for his 29th goal.
Notes: Blake picked up his 400th career assist on Hanson's goal.
...The oops of the night went to Zajac, who skated away after the
Canadian national anthem, forgetting about the "Star Spangled Banner."
... LW Brad May is scheduled to play in his 1,000th game Wednesday when
the Maple Leafs play his former team, the Sabres, in Toronto. ...
Toronto won the season series 3-0-1.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"World News Now Discussion List" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/wnndl?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
