Leafs coach jokes that Antropov illness related to Kazakhstan's 15-0 loss

TORONTO - A sickness forced Nik Antropov to skip practice Monday but Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson wonders if his Kazakhstani forward was ill over something else.

"He was sick, and I think he was more sick from that 15-0 drubbing Kazakhstan took," Wilson said facetiously. "He might have owed some guys some money and he just decided not to come and hope they forgot.

"It wouldn't shock me."

Wilson, of course, was referring to Kazakhstan's devastating loss to Canada at the world junior hockey championship Sunday.

An American, Wilson said he wouldn't show his face if the United States suffered a similar humiliation.

"I tell you, if the U.S. loses to Canada 15-0 you'll probably see (assistants) Tim Hunter, Rob Zettler and Keith Acton run the bench one night," he said. "I'd be hiding under a rock."