Leafs batting 1.000

By TIM WHARNSBY -- Toronto Sun The Maple Leafs' early season song has hit some familiar notes.
A year ago, Leafs coach Pat Quinn and goaltender Curtis Joseph arrived on the scene and the Leafs raced to an impressive 3-0 start.
This year, Quinn and Joseph have been every bit as effective. Toss in a red-hot Mats Sundin and you have a team that has outscored its opposition 10-2 in its first three games, following a 2-1 win against Colorado at the Air Canada Centre last night.
Joseph made a game-saving glove-hand stop on Avalanche defenceman Sandis Ozolinsh in the dying seconds.
"I guessed a little bit on it," Joseph said. "A quick start is good for everybody. But now we have a big test in front of us."
Joseph was referring to a showdown Saturday in Ottawa. The Leafs have yet to display a proficiency for beating close-checking teams like the Senators.
The Leafs also will be trying to win a fourth consecutive game, after having 17 previous three-game win streaks stalled since February 1994.
Captain Sundin shows no signs of stalling. He has been in on six of the Leafs' 10 goals this season.
He banged in a perfect Steve Thomas setup on the power play with 9:16 remaining in the third period for the game winner. Sundin also set up Jonas Hoglund for a power-play goal in the second period.
The power-play goals were the first for Toronto this season.
"If you want to be a good team coming down the stretch you need a power play that is working," Sundin said. "With the guys we have, we should have a good power play. That wasn't the case last year.
"Especially, the goal Jonas scored. We moved it around really well."
Quinn finally has given into Sundin's fondness of playing along the side boards during a power play. This gives the Leafs a point man at the top with Sundin and the other defenceman playing the side boards.
"It allows us to outnumber their two players at the top and control the puck better," Sundin said. "When we move around the puck like we did, their four penalty killers get tired."
Sundin certainly hasn't appeared tired in games. His new summer fitness regime was geared more toward cardiovascular workouts than to adding muscle. He is eight pounds lighter than a year ago, weighing about 220.
"In previous years, I've been trying to put more muscle on and trying to play a bit heavier," Sundin said. "I have a (6-foot-4) frame that I fit in. I should try to get into the best shape I can instead of trying to play heavier. I feel better out there now."
In what was an entertaining but sloppy game, Sundin's heroics overshadowed his Avalanche counterpart, Colorado captain Joe Sakic.
Sakic was skating as well as ever. After being foiled on a breakaway by Joseph, he scored on a deadly wrist shot in the second period to tie the game.
Despite the fact the Avs didn't arrive at their downtown hotel until 3 a.m. yesterday after a game Tuesday night in Nashville, goalie Patrick Roy also had a strong game.
The Leafs outshot their opponents 28-24.
"It was a good test for us, not having much going for us, but hanging in there and pulling it out in the end," Sundin said.

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