Leafs seek retribution against Flyers' Carcillo
The last time Flyers left winger Dan Carcillo faced Toronto, he scored a goal and mocked the players on the Maple Leafs' bench, pretending he was high-fiving them and later giving the throat-slash signal to one of their coaches.
The last time Flyers left winger Dan Carcillo faced Toronto, he scored a goal and mocked the players on the Maple Leafs' bench, pretending he was high-fiving them and later giving the throat-slash signal to one of their coaches.
The NHL wasn't amused; it fined Carcillo $2,500 for the slashing gesture.
The Leafs, who dropped a 6-2 decision at the Wachovia Center in that fight-filled Jan. 6 game, figure to seek retribution tonight when the teams meet at the Air Canada Centre.
"Maybe they'll be a little fired up; we'll see what happens," Carcillo said coyly after yesterday's practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.
The Leafs are recalling enforcer Jay Rosehill from the minors for tonight's rematch. In 23 games with the AHL Marlies, Rosehill has two points and 122 penalty minutes.
Wayne Gretzky, he is not.
In last week's game, Carcillo said that Toronto assistant Keith Acton was "chirping" at him, and that he got "caught up in the moment." He said he made the fine-drawing gesture because the Leafs had been making runs at Flyers captain Mike Richards.
The game included 80 penalty minutes and a pretty goal by Carcillo, who also got into a fight with Jamal Mayers.
Late in the second period, Colton Orr boarded Richards and spent the rest of the night making runs at him.
Carcillo raced to his defense.
"I was just kind of sending a message," Carcillo said. "If he wants to take penalties all night and put us on the power play, we'll be more than happy to do that again."
The Flyers and Leafs are going in opposite directions. Toronto has won just two of its last 11 games, while the Flyers are on an 8-1-1 surge, the league's best mark since Dec. 23.
The Flyers' hot streak followed a span in which they won just three of 17 games.
"When you go through a stretch like that, you count your lucky stars you're still in the thick of things," general manager Paul Holmgren said.
