Toronto Wins, 9-1, Then the Fun Begins

Jeff O’Neill scored three of Toronto’s nine goals Friday night in a fight-filled 9-1 rout of the Atlanta Thrashers at Atlanta, then the real fireworks started.

All of the postgame talk and barbs revolved around two third-period brawls that led to 109 penalty minutes.

“They obviously didn’t know how to handle it,” Toronto Coach Pat Quinn said of the officials.

Quinn also accused the Thrashers of “cowardice” and said Atlanta Coach Bob Hartley “has a reputation of sending his guys out headhunting.”

The first fight broke out after Atlanta’s Eric Boulton hit Maple Leaf forward Eric Lindros.

“That one kid Boulton took a run at one of our guys,” Quinn said. “That’s trying to hurt people and there should be no place in the game for that. This was a disgrace.”

Hartley said Maple Leaf enforcer Tie Domi helped turn the fight into a brawl.

“I’m going to say that Pat Quinn can say what he wants,” Hartley said. “I don’t care.”

Toronto General Manager John Ferguson was listening to Hartley’s postgame news conference and was annoyed when Hartley said that the Maple Leafs “are always whining, and this is no different.”

Ferguson then interrupted to say “That’s bull, Bob.”

Dallas 3, Edmonton 2 -- Steve Ott scored his first goal with 8:15 left in the third period and Johan Hedberg turned aside 33 shots for the Stars at Edmonton, Canada. Hedberg was solid in his season debut as Dallas Coach Dave Tippett rested starter Marty Turco.

Chicago 3, Colorado 2 -- Nikolai Khabibulin played his best game in goal since signing with Chicago, and the Blackhawks scored on all three chances in a shootout and won at Denver.

Vancouver 5, Minnesota 3 -- Richard Park had the go-ahead goal and two assists against his old team at St. Paul, Minn.

Philadelphia 6, Pittsburgh 5 -- Mike Rathje scored 3:17 into overtime, leading the host Flyers to victory. It was Pittsburgh’s fourth consecutive overtime game. Sidney Crosby scored for Pittsburgh.