I’m in Toronto, the center of the hockey universe, so I guess I better catch at least one game at the Air Canada Centre. And I’m in luck tonight, as the Maple Leafs are hosting the Sabres.

Thanks to Pat Park from the Leafs’ public relations department, I was able to get a seat up in the media level. While the press box is six stories above the ice, the view isn’t as bad as it is in other arenas.

The first thing I’m struck by is the retired numbers hanging from the ceiling. They’re not just names and numbers, like at most other places. I really like how the banners have a picture of the player. Very nice. Classy.

When the teams hit the ice for pre-game warmups, the building lit up, and it’s just sensational. I’m no technical expert, but whatever lighting set-up they use here should be copied by every other building in the League.

Oh, and the players came out to Jimi Hendrix. You can never go wrong with All Along the Watch Tower.

The Leafs really play up the team’s history, from the pictures on all levels of the building to pre-game video of the team’s classic players and moments. It’s a real nice presentation.

And the little boy skating a lap with a Leafs flag is really cool.

No Mats Sundin tonight for the Leafs. Andrew Raycroft will be in goal for the first time since I think the Leafs last won a Stanley Cup. Or maybe it only feels that way.

The building was maybe two-thirds full for the player introductions, but there still were enough people to get a good boo going for Raycroft. Meanwhile, Darcy Tucker, having just as disappointing a season, got a pretty loud ovation. Go figure.

Words can’t really describe the jacket anthem singer John McDermott is wearing. It would have to come up five levels to just be awful. It looked like he skinned a really ugly couch from the Brady Bunch house.

I see Sabres goalie Ryan Miller alone on the big screen and all I can think of are “Yo Momma” jokes from that Amp energy drink commercial.

The game’s underway, and the Leafs took a 1-0 lead 31 seconds into the game when Tucker scored. At the other end, Raycroft looked awfully good stopping Adam Mair twice on the doorstep. Maybe the boo birds can find another nest for a night.

Not a good start for a team whose playoff hopes are on life support.

Tomas Kaberle made the game 2-0 with a wraparound power-play goal in the last minute of the first when Miller fell down in the crease. The patient is getting worst.

Derek Roy got the playoff patient’s heart beating again when he scored from his belly early in the second.

The Sabres have outshot the Leafs 27-11 through two periods, but Raycroft has kept the Leafs ahead.

Dominic Moore nearly made the Sabres’ season when he almost put the puck in his own net, but Raycroft kept it out. Why were they booing him again?

Not only have the fans stopped booing Raycroft, they actually cheered him six minutes into the third when he denied two Sabres in the crease.

The good times ended when Steve Bernier drove the net, crashed into Raycroft and pushed the puck across the goal line. Replay said it was a good goal, and we’re tied with half the period to go.

Well, that didn’t last long. Anton Stralman started a breakout with a pass to Alexei Ponikarovsky, who raced into the Buffalo end and hit the brakes in the right circle. He hit a cutting Alex Steen and he banged one past Miller with just over seven minutes left.

Life returns in Buffalo. Moments after blowing a 2-on-1, Bryan McCabe took a bad interference penalty and Thomas Vanek tipped an Andrej Sekera shot behind Raycroft.

We’re tied, 3-3, with just over five minutes left.

Overtime can’t decide things, so we’re going to a shootout.

Kaberle first for the Leafs. Miller way out, and Kaberle goes right around him and scores. Way too easy.

Ales Kotalik up for the Sabres. He drops the shoulder, freezes Raycroft and scores on the backhand.

Steen now for Leafs. He fakes the wrister then goes to his backhand, but Miller stuffs him.

Jason Pominville for the Sabres fires a wrister over the goal.

Jiri Tlusty now for the Leafs. Nice dekes, but it goes off Miller’s blocker.

Roy with a chance to win it for Buffalo, but Raycroft gets him.

Pavel Kubina now for the Leafs, but Miller denies him.

Drew Stafford to shoot for the Sabres. Stafford cuts wide and fires a wrister that ding-dongs off the post. On we go.

Jeremy Williams up for the Leafs. His shot goes high off Miller’s blocker.

Thomas Vanek next for the Sabres. He’s denied by Raycroft.

Shooter No. 6 for the Leafs is John Pohl. Miller turns him aside.

Maxim Afinogenov for the Sabres. The shifty Russian fakes Raycroft and buries it, and the Sabres win it. For now, their playoff hopes remain alive. They still need to win out and hope for help from Boston and Philly.

After the game, Teppo Numminen held court in the Sabres’ locker room. He was cleared to play Tuesday afternoon, and could make his season debut Thursday or Saturday in one of the Sabres’ last two games.

It certainly couldn’t hurt the Sabres to have him back in the lineup.

All in all, it was a memorable first trip to the ACC. The arena is really nice, got to see some great hockey, and I got to see some members of the Buffalo press corps I got to spend time with back in January at the Winter Classic. John Vogl, Mike Harrington and Bill Hoppe are all good guys.

Tomorrow it’s back home to Philadelphia and a reunion with the wife and little girl.