Cote Delivers the Winner as Maple Leafs Top Flames

With players scrambling around the net, somebody forgot to cover Sylvain Cote.

The defenseman took advantage, scoring at 7:15 of the third period Monday night to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at Toronto.

Cote drifted in from the point to take a centering pass from behind the net from Fredrik Modin and beat rookie goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere for his third goal of the season.

“Everybody was converging toward the net, trying to protect the slot,” Cote said. “I was lucky enough to come by and just put it in.’

Steve Thomas and Derek King also scored for Toronto, which remained three points ahead of the Ottawa Senators atop the Northeast Division.

Dallas 3, San Jose 2--Grant Marshall capped the Stars’ three-goal second period with the go-ahead goal at Dallas, completing the home team’s rally from a two-goal first-period deficit.

The Sharks thought they’d pulled even on Ron Stern’s rebound with 22.5 seconds to play, but the goal was disallowed because teammate Stephane Matteau was in the crease.

Ottawa 4, Vancouver 3--Andreas Johansson scored two goals, including the winner, to lead the Senators at Kanata, Canada.

Johansson, who has nine goals, blasted a slap shot past Canuck goaltender Garth Snow at 11:18 of the third period, giving Coach Jacques Martin his 150th NHL victory.