Tuesday, January 11, 2000 To modify your profile, or to subscribe, click here.

TORONTO 3, BOSTON 2
(Box Score)

BOSTON (AP) - When Igor Korolev scores, Toronto wins. It's been as simple as that so far this season. The Maple Leafs forward scored twice, including the game-winner, and Dmitri Khristich had two assists against the team that walked away from him to lead Toronto to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. The win improved Toronto's record to 8-0 when Korolev has scored.

"I don't have an explanation for that," Korolev said. "But it's really nice. I'm not complaining."

Curtis Joseph stopped 33 shots for the Maple Leafs, who won for just the second time in six games. Korolev scored Toronto's first goal, then added the game-winner 8:31 into the third period.

"I like the way he plays, whether he's scoring or not," Toronto coach Pat Quinn said. "If he kicks it in, it's a bonus."

Rob Tallas made 23 saves for the Bruins, who are winless (0-4-2) in six games and have won just once in 11 games.

The Bruins were without Jason Allison, their top scorer the last two seasons, who said Tuesday he will miss the rest of the season to have surgery on his left thumb and right wrist. Sergei Samsonov has missed three games with a strained knee.

"We're in a tough hole with our best player (Allison) missing," defenseman Ray Bourque said. "But we can't feel sorry for ourselves. We all have to step up."

Bruins coach Pat Burns, whose team would miss the playoffs if the standings remain the same, did get a little sympathy from Quinn.

"Let's face it, they're decimated with injuries. They've lost some important guys," Quinn said of reports that Burns' job was in jeopardy. "In my mind, it's really unfair what's happening now."

Khristich won a $2.8 million arbitration award from the Bruins this fall but the team walked away from the decision -- the first time an NHL team took advantage of the right negotiated as part of the collective bargaining agreement that ended the 1994-95 lockout. He signed a four-year, $10 million deal with the Maple Leafs and scored a goal in his first game against his former team on Nov. 11. But Toronto lost that one, 4-3 in overtime.

The Maple Leafs were able to win this time, stopping their slide with two quick goals early and Korolev's tie-breaker late. Mats Sundin scored off an assist from Khristich in the first period.

"It's a good feeling," Khristich said. "But mostly because we started on the right note for a road trip."

Anson Carter scored to tie it 2-2 and Steve Heinze scored the other Bruins goal.

Toronto Maple Leafs 3, BOSTON BRUINS 2
(Recap)

                    1ST  2ND  3RD   FINAL
                    ---  ---  ---   -----
Toronto              2    0    1      3
Boston               0    1    1      2


FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Toronto, Korolev 9 (Khristich,
Berard), 11:17. 2, Toronto, Sundin 19 (Khristich, Berard), 13:00
(pp). PENALTIES: McAllister, Tor (holding), 6:43; Sweeney, Bos
(hooking), 9:14; McLaren, Bos (interference), 11:36; King, Tor
(high-sticking), 14:39; McAllister, Tor (interfence), 18:11.

SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 3, Boston, Heinze 7 (Mathieu,
Henderson), 3:04. PENALTIES: Laaksonen, Bos (holding), 12:22.

THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 4, Boston, Carter 18 (Axelsson, DiMaio),
:25. 5, Toronto, Korolev 10 (Yushkevich), 8:31. PENALTIES: Adams,
Tor (high-sticking), 4:02; Khristich, Tor (interference), 14:23.


SHOTS ON GOAL
                    1ST  2ND  3RD   TOTAL
                    ---  ---  ---   -----
Toronto              8    8   10     26
Boston              10    8   17     35


POWER PLAY: Toronto 1 of 3; Boston 0 of 5. GOALIES: Toronto,
Joseph 21-10-4 (35 shots-33 saves). Boston, Tallas 2-5-3 (26-23).

Referees: Tim Peel, Don Van Massenhoven. Linesmen: Dan Schachte,
Lyle Seitz.

A: 17,273 (17,565).

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