TORONTO -- Up and running here at the ACC, home of the hapless Leafs, whose coach, Ron Wilson, continues to remind one and all that the Leafs just aren't very good.

Points for honesty. The Leafs this morning stand 17-22-7, with 41 points, or 10 points behind No. 8 see Carolina in the Eastern Conference.
The distant sons of Harold Ballard have won but once since Jan. 3: 1-5-1.

Would Mats Sundin have provided any help? Not necessarily. Big Mats finally came out of selp-imposed hibernation and signed last month with Vancouver.

But the 'Nucks have be in freefall ever since the arrival of the ex-Leafs captain. They fell in OT, 2-1, to the Sharks Tuesday night and this morning hold the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

Your faithful correspondent made it over on foot from the hotel this morning, trailing slightly behind the play with Milan Lucic and Chuck Kobasew up the sidewalk.

Will report back later this morn with whatever update the Bruins provided on injured soldiers Lucic, Andrew Ference and Aaron Ward. Of the three, Lucic (shoulder injury) is believed to be the closest to getting back in action. However, Lucic notified the league earlier this week that he will not participate in this weekend's All-Star activities in Montreal.