from Chris Johnston of Sportnet,

By the time Dion Phaneuf got to hand Mike Babcock a puck commemorating his first win as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, there was an overwhelming sentiment inside the dressing room that it had been the product of a lot of hard work.

“That’s something that I feel is important,” Phaneuf said after Friday’s 6-3 win over the cratering Columbus Blue Jackets. “The puck’s a special thing.”

For Babcock, it represented his 528th NHL victory — 458 with Detroit, 69 with Anaheim, one with Toronto — but there was a good deal of pride because of the manner in which it came.

The Leafs controlled large stretches of the game against a desperate team also trying for its first victory of the season. They didn't buckle when the Blue Jackets pushed back, and demonstrated their progression from where they were on opening night.

"I like winning as much as the next guy -- maybe more than the next guy actually," said Babcock. "I'm kind of used to it, too.

"I'm thrilled with the direction we're going -- we've got tons of work to do as you know -- but it's always nice to win."

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