Scores twice after nasty hit from Atlanta's Holik
By Paul Hunter
ATLANTA ? Each time the needle went in, as a doctor tried to freeze Alexei Ponikarovsky's lacerated tongue between periods, the Maple Leafs winger got angrier. He was mad at Bobby Holik for the "cheap" open-ice hit that put him there, mad at the pain that was searing through his head.
Finally, after the third injection, he'd had enough.
"Let's go," he impatiently told the Thrashers' team physician. "Just stitch it up and get me out there."
Ponikarovsky bit through his tongue when Holik blindsided him in the second period; it took at least a dozen stitches to sew it together. When the bleeding stopped, he took a bite out of the Thrashers.
Ponikarovsky scored two third-period goals to clinch a 4-0 win over Atlanta for the Leafs' sixth victory in the last seven games.
Toronto's winning formula, Vesa Toskala's stellar goaltending, Mats Sundin's dominance and a team-wide dedication to defence has slowly edged the team back into a playoff spot. This morning they sit tied for seventh place in the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia at 34 points. The Flyers have three games in hand.
A little rage, courtesy of Ponikarovsky, added to the mix last night.
Ponikarovsky a Leaf surrounded by the Maple Leaf
By Dan Rosen
As long as it took Alexei Ponikarovsky to gain full citizenship in the National Hockey League, it was nothing compared to how long he waited to reach his latest personal milestone.
"It took 5.5 years," he said.
While it?s not as difficult as making it to the League, becoming a Canadian citizen takes a lot of patience and perseverance, too. Ponikarovsky, a born and trained Ukrainian, won the day on June 7, 2007, when he was sworn in as one of Canada?s newest citizens during a ceremony in Etobicoke, Ont.
Ponikarovsky?s wife, Inna, and their two children, Jessica and Alex, already were Canadian citizens. Jessica and Alex were born in Canada, and Inna has duel-citizenship in Canada and the Ukraine.
?It was a matter of time for me to get it because it?s a good country and I?m probably going to stay here when I?m done with hockey,? Ponikarovsky told NHL.com. ?I was looking forward to getting it.?
3-0N-3 Lessons Go Beyone The Rink:Ponikarovsky
By Jeff Gard
Poni gives an autograph during the 3-on-3 ice hockey league wrap-up day at the Memorial Arena in Cobourg, Ontario on August 27, 2007. (Photo: Jeff Gard)
Three hundred local children played 3-on-3 ice hockey this past month and Alexei Ponikarovsky, the special guest at the league's wrapup this past weekend, supports the format.
In fact, the Toronto Maple Leafs forward knows firsthand about the competition and its benefits.
The 27-year-old grew up in Ukraine and, while playing minor hockey, through the years made the three-day bus trip to a large tournament in France.
The format was 3-on-3, plus a goalie.
"It's a lot of ice time and you have more space. It's good for stickhandling and skating. At the same time, you're getting better. You need more ice time to develop skills," Ponikarovsky told the Cobourg Daily Star.
PART 2: 3-on-3 lessons go beyond the rink:Ponikarovsky
Three hundred local children played 3-on-3 ice hockey this past month and Alexei Ponikarovsky, the special guest at the league's wrapup this past weekend, supports the format.
In fact, the Toronto Maple Leafs forward knows firsthand about the competition and its benefits.
The 27-year-old grew up in Ukraine and, while playing minor hockey, through the years made the three-day bus trip to a large tournament in France.
The format was 3-on-3, plus a goalie.
"It's a lot of ice time and you have more space. It's good for stickhandling and skating. At the same time, you're getting better. You need more ice time to develop skills," Ponikarovsky told the Cobourg Daily Star.
Maple Leafs Extend Ponikarovsky
John Ferguson, vice-president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Thursday that the club has signed forward Alexei Ponikarovsky to a three-year contract extension. In keeping with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Ponikarovsky, 27, played 71 games for Toronto collecting 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) with 63 penalty minutes and a (+8) plus/minus rating. This past season he set a career-high in goals (tie), assists, points, powerplay goals (6) and shots on goal (198).
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