Many of the familiar faces from both teams may be gone, but the Philadelphia Flyers say their recent rivalry with the Maple Leafs remains as intense as ever.
The teams have played each other three times in the last six Stanley Cup playoffs, with the Leafs eliminating the Flyers in 1999 and Philadelphia returning the favor in 2003 and '04. Tonight, the Flyers and the Leafs, who now include former Philadelphia captain Eric Lindros, meet for the first time this season.
The Flyers expect an emotional game, even though the Leafs will be without captain Mats Sundin (fractured orbital bone) or departed free agents Joe Nieuwendyk, Brian Leetch and Gary Roberts.
"It's still the Toronto Maple Leafs," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said after Monday's practice. "Any time it's Philadelphia and Toronto, it's a great rivalry. Going into Toronto twice in the next two weeks will give our (new) guys an understanding of what the rivalry is."
The Flyers turned over more than half the roster since the 2004 playoff series.
But captain Keith Primeau, a Toronto native, said that doesn't matter.
"To me, the rivalry is the jerseys, more so than who's in the jerseys," Primeau said. "They have enough guys to remember the last couple playoffs. If our (new) guys weren't aware, they will be quick."
Smyth hurting
Oilers forward Ryan Smyth will miss at least two games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Smyth's injury will be reassessed by the team and his status will likely be determined Wednesday or Thursday, a team spokesman said yesterday.
The 29-year-old Smyth was injured in a knee-on-knee collision with Vancouver defenseman Bryan Allen on Saturday. Smyth did not travel with the team on for a two-game road trip to Anaheim and Los Angeles. The Oilers' next home game is Friday against Dallas.
Smyth has one goal and three assists in two games. He had 23 goals and 36 assists in the 2003-04 season.
Daze down
The Chicago Blackhawks yesterday placed forward Eric Daze on injured reserve and recalled forward Jason Morgan from Norfolk of the American Hockey League.
Daze missed his second game this season Sunday after tweaking his back in the warmup before Friday's game against the San Jose Sharks. Daze has had surgery to repair herniated discs in his back three times in five years.
Morgan was acquired by the Blackhawks last year from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Ville Nieminen. He has played in 33 NHL games and has one goal while adding four assists.
Morgan was sent to Norfolk before the start of the season, where he appeared in two games with the Admirals and had one assist.
