Rusted Healy Beats Chicago

December 12, 1998 / 1:40 AM EST / AP

Although he hadn't played in a NHL game since last April, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Glenn Healy showed no signs of rust.

Healy, who had spent the first two months of the season with the IHL's Chicago Wolves, made 28 saves as the Maple Leafs beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 Friday night.

Healy was solid as the Maple Leafs held on to first place in the NHL's Northeast Division despite being outshot 30-19.

"Healy stepped in and did a good job for us," said Toronto coach Pat Quinn. "He was sharp on the puck all night long."

The Maple Leafs had sent Healy, an 11-year NHL veteran, to the minors because there was no room for him on their roster after they signed free agent Curtis Joseph over the summer. Toronto, however, recalled Healy earlier this week after Felix Potvin, the Maple Leafs' backup goalie this season and number-one netminder in recent years, walked out.

"I never doubted my ability over the last couple of months," Healy said. "It was a matter of not being able to control by own fate. "

"You never have to worry about getting up for games like this. It's more a matter of getting grounded and not being too aggressive and making mistakes."

While Healy was poised in his NHL return, the Maple Leafs got goals from Todd Warriner, Alyn McCauley and Mats Sundin to extend their unbeaten streak at the United Center to seven games (6-0-1).

"It's a great rivalry between Toronto and Chicago," Sundin said. "Since I've been a Toronto Maple Leaf, we've been having success against them."

Additionally, Toronto has won four of its last five games overall and seven of its last nine.

Doug Gilmour and Dan Clearly scored for the Blackhawks, who were kept at bay by the Maple Leafs' smart play as Toronto protected a one-goal lead through a scoreless third period.

"We played well," said Chicago coach Dirk Graham. "The effort was very good. We just made some mental errors, some concentration errors."

Warriner opened the scoring at 11:42 of the first period. He beat Chicago goaltender Jocelyn Thibault from 15 feet when the puck dribbled across the slot after a faceoff in the Blackhawks' zone.

Gilmour tied it during a power play at 14:00 when he deflected Dave Manson's shot from the top of the slot past Healy. However, McCauley restored the Maple Leafs' lead with 1:52 left in the period by converting a 2-on-1 with Dimitri Yushkevich.

Sundin extended Toronto's advantage to 3-1 at 1:27 of the second period on a low slap shot from just inside the Chicago blue line that slipped between Thibault's legs. Cleary cut it to 3-2 at 11:12 by banging in a rebound from a scramble to the right of Healy.