Leafs not inspired by Sundin ceremony

One would think the Maple Leafs would witness Mats Sundin's banner-raising ceremony, take his message of support for the current team and give a loud home crowd one of its best efforts of the season.

Instead, the Leafs were flat in the first period, awful in the second, lost 5-0 and now head on a West Coast road trip having tied their season-high losing streak of three games.

The emotional Sundin ceremony, in which his No. 13 joined 17 others in the Air Canada Centre rafters, did nothing for the home side, certainly not goalie James Reimer, who was beaten four times on seven shots in the second period. Jonas Gustavsson allowed one as the Canadiens took a second win from the Leafs in three weeks to tighten the division and Eastern Conference playoff picture.

"It's too bad we can't give Mats a better present than this," Gustavsson said. "But it doesn't matter if it was his night, we needed a better performance. At least we didn't lose (eighth place)."

The Canadiens had to endure the same long wait as the Leafs during a salute to Sundin, who used part of his speech to ask fans to give the current Leaf team full support, as they're the best playoff hope in seven years. But Montreal played the sit-and-wait game that has caused the Leafs a lot of trouble this season.

"The first goal was critical," coach Ron Wilson said. "It wasn't a good one to give up and bad things happened after that."

Toronto starts its trip Tuesday in Calgary, with Wilson warning the Leafs will have to mend their ways and play some basic chip-and-chase hockey in opposing buildings.

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