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Like him or not, Darcy Tucker always was a colourful figure during his tenure in blue-and-white.
Tucker spent eight-plus seasons with the Maple Leafs up until the summer of 2008, when he was told the team was no longer interested in his services.
As an unrestricted free agent, Tucker signed a two-year, $4.5 million US deal with the Colorado Avalanche. His new life in the Mile High City didn't quite go as planned, however, as he scored just eight goals in 63 games for the Avs.
The Avs are off to a better start this season, going 3-1-1 after a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins yesterday. Now they come to Toronto tonight for a meeting with the slumping Leafs.
The meeting will mark the first time Tucker will play an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre since leaving the Leafs more than 15 months ago. It will be interesting to see the crowd's reaction concerning the emotional Tucker, who comes in with two goals and an assist this season. When asked about his feelings regarding his return to Toronto, Tucker told a reporter from the Denver Post that the Avs did not want him talking about the subject until today's morning skate at the ACC.
DAZED AND CONFUSED
As if Vesa Toskala didn't have enough worries to his troubling start to the season, he momentarily had his marbles scrambled when Chris Drury slammed into him in the final minute of the second period last night. Don't blame Drury, though. The Rangers forward was cross-checked into Toskala by the Leafs' Jason Blake.