Steen makes difference in Leafs' miracle month

The New Year started horribly. The Maple Leafs were hobbled by injuries to many of their core veterans after a disastrous December that saw them fall from a comfort zone in the Eastern Conference to near bottom-dweller status.

One after another, the injuries and losses mounted in December. Mike Peca, Darcy Tucker, Kyle Wellwood – the top penalty killer, the top goal scorer, the crafty playmaker – joined a list that already included the twin towers of Alexei Ponikarovsky and Nik Antropov.

But a month later, all is rosy. Those players are still hurt, but somehow the Leafs went 8-4 through the first month of the year and find themselves keeping pace with the playoff contenders. The .667 winning percentage makes it the club's best month of the season.

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