Belak replaces injured McCabe ...
and gets hurt, too
By LANCE HORNBY -- Toronto Sun
NEW YORK -- Wade Belak joked about declining the assignment to play before last night's game against the New York Rangers when the Maple Leafs needed a defenceman to replace Bryan McCabe.
He must have known something.
Belak lasted only nine shifts into the early part of the second period when he was squashed face-first into the boards by Eric Lindros.
Belak did not return, said to be suffering from a facial contusion, though x-rays revealed no broken bones. Lindros was ejected from the game.
Not only had Belak yet to play in Toronto's three regular-season games and had no first-hand grasp of the new obstruction rules, he had spent the pre-season as a fourth-line winger.
"God, I hope not," Belak said with a laugh when asked if general manager/coach Pat Quinn might choose him ahead of Ric Jackman or Carlo Colaiacovo against the Rangers.
"They would be throwing me to the wolves."
But Belak's number was called as McCabe remained in Toronto with a swollen left hand after he blocked an Ian Moran wrist shot with the palm on Monday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
McCabe had not missed a game since March 16, 2000, as a Chicago Blackhawk, ending a streak of 179 starts. McCabe is listed as day to day.
"Bryan will be re-evaluated (today) but we believe there's no break," assistant to the general manager Bill Watters said before last night's game. "When you have a flush hematoma like that, it's difficult to know when you can come back."
It's likely the fortified Rangers lineup of tough guys swayed Quinn to rest Jackman and Colaiacovo. Belak is an accomplished fighter. Jackman and Colaiacovo had out-performed several defencemen in training camp, but the loyal Quinn would not let his returning six lose their jobs without a fight.
Colaiacovo and McCabe were tied for the pre-season scoring lead with six points, a showing that helped fast track a three-year contract for Colaiacovo.
Quinn also is reserving the right to send him back to the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League before or during the time Colaiacovo plays nine NHL games, the limit before he loses a year of automatic waiver protection.
