Sundin nets winner for Canucks in Toronto return

TORONTO (Reuters) - Mats Sundin got a standing ovation and a victory in his return to Toronto, notching the shootout winner to seal the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday.

The Maple Leafs long-time captain and all-time leading scorer rifled a backhand into the top corner past Vesa Toskala to earn the surging Canucks their eighth win in nine games and cap an emotional visit to the city he called home for 13 seasons.

The goal provide a fitting conclusion to a moving night for Sundin, whose appearance was met with both jeers and cheers.

When Sundin first stepped on the Air Canada Center ice he was welcomed with a chorus of boos, but a montage of the big Swede's greatest Toronto moments shown on the big screen during a break in the opening period received a standing ovation.

"You dream about getting chances like that, to be the deciding shooter, have breakaway at the end of game or an overtime goal," Sundin told reporters.

"I was probably crying a little bit, 13-years in this city with a team that had a lot of ups and downs, there were a lot of emotions.

"I thought they really showed me respect. It was amazing.

"No matter how this game would have ended it would never change my memories with the Leafs, it was always going to be the same."

"The ovation from the fans was very special, I will remember that for the rest of my life."

Sundin's long-standing love affair with Toronto sports fans hit the rocks last year when the rebuilding Leafs attempted to deal their captain at the trade deadline in return for what would have been an attractive package of draft picks and prospects.

However, Sundin scuppered any deals when he refused to waive his no-trade clause, then drew the wrath of some fans who were left feeling betrayed when he decided not to return to Toronto and signed with Canucks.

If there was any lingering ill-feeling, it seemed forgotten when Sundin was named player of the game and returned to ice, fighting back tears as he waved to his once-again adoring legion of fans.

"I thought it was great (the ovation), well deserved," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said.

Toronto opened the scoring on a first period powerplay goal from Jason Blake, while the Canucks answered with an extra-man tally of their own midway through the second from Sami Salo.

The Maple Leafs regained the lead before the end of the period on Matt Stajan's short-handed effort but the Canucks responded again, Alex Burrows redirecting Daniel Sedin's shot past Toskala with three minutes remaining to force overtime.

(Editing by John O'Brien)