Leafs' slump continues as Sens pass Toronto in simulated NHL season

NEIL DAVIDSON
December 28, 2004
(CP) - For the first time in 2½ months, the Ottawa Senators have passed the Toronto Maple Leafs in The Canadian Press's simulated NHL season.

The Sens (18-12-5, 41 points) have pulled one point ahead of the Leafs (17-14-6, 40 points). Ottawa didn't have much of a week, but neither did Toronto, still struggling in the absence of injured captain Mats Sundin , who is not expected back until early January.

The Senators lost 4-2 to Philadelphia before rebounding to tie Buffalo 2-2 and beat Montreal 5-2 in games simulated for The Canadian Press by Electronic Arts, using its made-in-Vancouver NHL 2005 game.

Nine different players scored for the Sens over the week.

The sluggish Leafs tied Atlanta 4-4 - thanks to three goals from Joe Nieuwendyk - and lost 4-3 to Calgary and 3-1 to Edmonton.

Montreal (13-16-8, 34 points) remains third in the Northeast Division after downing the Islanders 3-1 and losing 5-2 to Ottawa and 3-2 to Pittsburgh.

The Calgary Flames (23-8-5, 51 points) maintained their three-point lead over the Colorado Avalanche (21-9-6, 48 points) in both the overall league standings and the Northwest Division.

The St. Louis Blues (19-9-8, 46 points) are third overall in the league, two points ahead of Central Division rival Detroit (20-12-4, 44 points). Vancouver (17-12-8, 42 points) is just behind in the standings.

Edmonton (12-16-8, 32 points) remains in the Northwest Division basement.

The Philadelphia Flyers (17-12-6, 40 points) picked up five points out of a possible six on the week to move past the Rangers and Islanders into first place in the Atlantic Division. But it came at a cost.

Veteran defenceman Eric Desjardins was hurt in a 2-2 tie with Phoenix. He is expected to miss the next 20 games.

Minnesota Wild winger Antti Laaksonen was also injured. He isn't due back until early February.

The Electronic Arts simulation uses the 2002-03 schedule, since this season's dates weren't out when the latest version of the game was finished.