HOCKEY LAST NIGHT: LEAFS GEEK IT

Bruins 3 Leafs 1: Mats Sundin gets back in the lineup, and it's the same ol' same ol' -- he's the only offence they had. Told you they would totally geek it after going 4-2-1 in his absence. The Bruins and Tim Thomas were full value, though.

Kings 3 Flames 1: Calgary falls to 3-6-2 on the road after being outworked and outhit by the Kings, who were coming of a game in Dallas 24 hours earlier.

Sharks 2 Devils 0: Evgeni Nabokov gott his third shutout of the season, but it's his netminding partner Vesa Toskala who has the eye-popping stats -- 11-2-0, 2.13 goals-against average, .925 save percentage. It's too early to talk Vezina Trophy, but would sharing the netminding hurt Toskala's chances?

Rangers 2 Penguins 1: Jordan Staal was all sweet and no finish on a penalty shot in OT, and Martin Straka made the Pens pay, scoring with three seconds to go.

Blue Jackets 5 Wild 3: Hey, Ken Hitchcock is already working miracles; in college football-crazy Columbus, the local paper said this game "was a better show than USC-Notre Dame."

Predators 6 Red Wings 2: No wonder Dominik Hasek took the night off. Wings coach Mike Babcock called this Detroit's "poorest effort all year."

Coyotes 2 Blues 1: Pass.

Elsewhere: Flyers 4 Canadiens 2; Avs 4 Canucks 1; Thrashers 1 Panthers 0; Islanders 4 Capitals 1 (never bet against the Isles on Bob Bourne Night).

Today's better games: Sens-Lightning, 5 p.m.; Sabres-Rangers, 7 p.m.; Flames-Ducks, 8 p.m. (Actually, that's all of today's games.)

HOMETOWN BREAKDOWN: MAVS STRIKES AGAIN

The Kingston Frontenacs didn't play yesterday, but were in the news nonetheless thanks to a Toronto Star story about the team and Ontario Hockey League's attempt to withhold the education package former Front Brody Todd who was due to receive after playing five seasons in the OHL. Todd sued, and the case was finally settled out of court last week, with him apparently getting what he was supposed to.

Todd, 17 at the time, left Kingston early in 2001-02 after getting discouraged with his own and the team's progress. General manager-for-life Larry Mavety, who was also coaching at the time, then traded him to Sudbury. Mavety apparently couldn't leave well enough alone; after the season he wrote Todd to tell him he had "violated his contract and forfeited 'all benefits.' "

Strange that Larry Mavety would do that, seeing as the OHL touts the education package as a reward based on playing in the league, not for a particular team. However, anyone who knows a little about Ol' Larry knows that he isn't above sticking it to a teenager who, in his mind, wasn't responding to his coaching.

For three years, as Todd played for three more teams, the team and league stonewalled Todd and his lawyer, before they finally sued. As the Star puts it, "The OHL's position appeared at odds with what it was communicating publicly. An OHL promotional booklet for parents and prospects listed Todd playing university hockey on league scholarships." (italics mine)

Incidentally, Todd, who now plays for the Acadia Axemen, is also a published author. Good for him.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.