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There isn’t a historic rivalry between the Leafs and Knights that might have arrange such a nasty sport in mid-November.
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Nevertheless it advanced into an intense affair: Toronto took away a 3-0 win, placing it in first place within the Atlantic. Our takeaways:
UNLUCKY SEVEN
Matthew Knies turned the seventh Leaf ahead to get knocked from the lineup, with six accidents and Ryan Reaves took himself out on suspension.
Coach Craig Berube was irate on the bench when a number of replays confirmed Zach Whitecloud leaving his ft to rock the Leaf winger together with his shoulder, extra when Simon Benoit wound up with an additional minor for leaping Whitecloud, however the win tempered him after.
“My view of the hit … it’s a troublesome name. I’m not going to sit down right here and touch upon the league, They thought it a clear hit (after an extended convention with a replay monitor) so there’s nothing you possibly can touch upon, actually nothing to say.”
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Knies didn’t come out for the third interval and Berube wouldn’t reply to a query a few potential query.
“He’s higher physique proper now and I feel tomorrow will inform us extra.”
RALLY CAPS
The Knies harm had a galvanizing impact on the Leafs all the way in which to goalie Joseph Woll, who in contrast it to a playoff sport.
“It wasn’t a great factor he was harm, however positively sparked some power. Generally anger and people issues can be utilized to drive you thru a sport and I used to be simply pleased to see us shut them down after one thing like that.
“I used to be fairly pissed and tried to harness it as greatest I may.”
With out Reaves and Max Domi, the Leafs confirmed belligerence. Jake McCabe was going out of his technique to bump the Knights and get at Whitecloud.
‘We initiated early, guys didn’t shrink back,” Berube noticed.
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Benoit, who was already surly after sitting a few video games so the group may get a take a look at Jani Hakanpaa, dished out eight of Toronto’s 23 hits.
“I believed he was glorious tonight, extra aggressive than he has been,” Berube mentioned. “Not solely bodily and shutting out performs, however he moved within the offensive zone and superior the puck.”
Woll singled out Steven Lorentz for key shot blocks all through, two off the identical foot, 4 of Toronto’s 26.
GREBENKIN BREAKS IN
What an NHL debut for Nikita Grebenkin, referred to as up Tuesday evening and getting the Vegas bench riled by squashing Shea Theodore within the first interval, albeit from behind and a bit too near the boards to rile the Knights.
His day ended with a knockabout media scrum because the giddy Russian’s command of English was examined. The Leafs stayed again at warmup to present him the normal rookie warm-up lap, with the gang cheering.
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“Good day, lengthy day. I get pleasure from group win,” he mentioned with a gap-toothed smile. “Thanks group, thanks normal supervisor (Brad Treliving), coach helped me. I waited a very long time for NHL play.”
Sure, the 6-foot-2 ahead loved the hitting, the give and take.
“I like laborious hockey. The group converse to me, ‘backcheck, forecheck and pay cheque’ (just like the previous hockey saying).”
The studious Woll loves enjoying with Grebenkin already.
“Most of my learn on his character is from non-verbal cues. I want I knew extra of what he’s saying as a result of he’s so constructive and pleased on a regular basis.”
MINTED GOAL
Centre Fraser Minten wasn’t positive the place the memento puck was going from his first NHL purpose, however he couldn’t have requested for a greater feed from William Nylander and he came to visit the boards on a line change and the Knights overpassed him.
“I stayed within the quiet ice and I do know Willy sees all the things,” he mentioned. “I felt extra assertive, extra assured (than final yr’s non-eventful four-game trial). It’s much less awe.
“You consider your first purpose lots, however you don’t know the way it will occur.
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