Domi raps owner but not Alfredsson
April 21, 2004

By STEVE BUFFERY, TORONTO SUN

TIE DOMI exploded at the media following last night's Game 7 victory over Ottawa, but later calmed down and gave the verbal boot to Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. Toronto native Melnyk said on Sunday, following his team's double overtime victory over the Leafs, that the Senators "We're going to kill 'em" in Game

That obviously did not sit too well with the Leafs, and Domi said that the blue and white used those words for inspiration in their game against the Sens last night.

ROOKIE OWNER

"It's like their rookie owner said, 'the cream always rises to the top.' So I guessed we rolled to the top," said Domi, who may have been the best Leaf in the series against Ottawa.

"(Those comments) filtered around here (in the dressing room) quite a bit," Domi added. "This year we haven't allowed any newspapers in the dressing room ... we don't let any distractions get in here. And I think that's been a big success for our team. But guys watch (TV) in the (dressing room) lounge here and there was a lot of 'Hey, get over here. Listen to this guy.'

"We definitely wanted to make him eat his words."

Domi refused to dump on Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson, who brazenly predicted a series win following a Game 5 loss.

"Alfredsson is just trying to be a leader," Domi said. "He's a player and he's entitled to say anything he wants. He's a world class hockey player. I have a lot of respect for him."

Domi, who set up Chad Kilger for Toronto's first goal last night, was unquestionably the hardest working Leaf in the series.

On an emotional night, the Leafs' tough guy became even more emotional when asked about Mats Sundin, the Leafs captain who was forced to miss the past three games because of an injury.

"We have a pretty special bond, him and I, for 11 years now," Domi said of his captain. "We're like brothers.

"It was nice to get him the win because I've never seen him so down," he added. "He came in fired up before the game, and we knew he wanted this game bad."

The only sour note for Domi was when reporters asked if a probe looking into the business dealings of his brother, Dash, was a distraction. Domi initially issued a no comment but then screamed at a small group of reporters, accusing their papers of treating his brother unfairly.