Pest in Show
Even before the opposing center lines up, Tucker barks at him. "F---ing rookie," he says. The linesman gets his next. "Puck better be dropped just right," Tucker says, tapping his stick on the ice. "Better be right f---ing here." The wing keeps right on talking, in even more colorful language, as he wins the draw and gives the rook an elbow in the ribs, just for showing up.
Yes, it's a typical Maple Leafs practice for Darcy Tucker. His opponent at this optional skate is 20-year-old rookie center Matt Stajan, who stoically accepts Tucker's abuse. But after five draws with similar shenanigans, the guy dropping the puck -- assistant coach Keith Acton -- throws down three at once and skates away in anger.
If only the rest of hockey could do the same. There are a lot of reasons why the banged-up Leafs are surprisingly vying for the best record in the Eastern Conference -- the netminding of Eddie Belfour, the scoring of Mats Sundin -- but Tucker may be the most important.
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