Maple Leafs rookie Jonas Gustavsson has struggled because of a groin injury. He's 1-2 and allowed eight goals. (Associated Press)
Canada's national nightmare is over.
The Maple Leafs won a game.
After starting a franchise-worst 0-7-1, Toronto got a boost from forward Niklas Hagman and the return of rookie Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson in a 6-3 road victory over Anaheim on Monday.
Hagman doubled his goal total with a hat trick (power play in each period), and Gustavsson, returning from a groin injury, had 25 saves.
"Obviously it's huge," Hagman told NHL.com. "The start of the year was really tough. We didn't play well. The last two games we played pretty well, we just haven't gotten the results. We knew that if we stick with the same game plan, get our team to play the way that we can, that we're going to eventually win."
The Ducks, not exactly tearing up the league either, racked up 17 penalties for 45 minutes, handing the Leafs 11 power plays and extended 5-on-3 time.
Anaheim is last in the Pacific Division at 3-6-1 and has lost four straight.
Raising Arizona
The Coyotes have proven they can't easily be distracted by things going on off the ice.
Their ownership situation has been a dark cloud hovering over the team, but the cloud might be dissipating. On Monday, NHL officials announced an agreement to buy the team from current owner Jerry Moyes .
Despite the uncertainty, coach Dave Tippett and Shane Doan have guided the Coyotes to a 6-4-0 start.
"We heard all summer long how we're going to finish last, we're a terrible team," Doan told NHL.com. "It kind of challenges you, and I think it challenged everybody in the room."
Commissioner Gary Bettman reaffirmed on the Coyotes Web site the league intends to sell the team to someone who plans to keep it in Arizona.
"We believe in this market," he said. "We believe in this team."
Staying confident
The Thrashers didn't like what they heard from their medical team Monday -- forward Ilya Kovalchuk has a broken bone in his right foot and will miss a month.
But coach John Anderson is trying to remain positive.
"I don't think we change our whole thought process because we lose one guy," Anderson told NHL.com. "I would hope not. Again, it's about the team and we can't think, 'Oh, the sky has fallen.' "
Kovalchuk took a puck off his foot against the Sharks last weekend. He had nine goals and an assist in eight games.
"It's very disappointing for Kovy and for us to lose him, but now it's an opportunity for some other players to step up," Atlanta general manager Don Waddell said on the Thrashers Web site.
By the numbers
5 Points for the N.Y. Islanders in overtime games
11 Goals for Washington forward Alex Ovechkin, tops in the league
Dana's top 5
Dana's bottom 5
More online: Find Dana Wakiji's complete power rankings at detnews.com/wings.
Moving up
Some achievable milestones for the 2009-10 season:
Goals
400: Ottawa RW Alex Kovalev needs 3
Points
1,000: St. Louis LW Paul Kariya needs 47; Ottawa RW Alex Kovalev needs 55
Shutouts
103: New Jersey G Martin Brodeur needs one to tie Terry Sawchuk for 1st
Quotable
“I am honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame in my home province of Nova Scotia. The torch relay will pass through so many communities and hands on the way to Vancouver and I’m privileged to be part of that special group as the Olympic Flame makes its way to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Games.”
-- Sidney Crosby, Penguins center, on taking part in the Olympic Torch relay Nov. 18 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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