The Toronto Marlies and a spattering of Toronto Maple Leafs’ regulars ventured into Canada’s capital to tackle the Ottawa Senators within the second of two residence and residential preseason video games. This was the polar reverse of the primary sport in Toronto, not solely with who dressed for every staff however in how the sport ended up. The primary sport, a 6-5 Senators win, was wide-open with little or no protection. This sport was one other preseason loss for Toronto, however it was tight-checking, with neither staff mustering a lot offense.
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The Good for the Maple Leafs
With a lot of the Maple Leafs gamers who performed this sport both combating for a spot on the large staff or destined for the Marlies, it was straightforward to foretell the one factor that wouldn’t occur. They’d not get outworked, and so they didn’t. It was straightforward to inform that each participant on the ice for Toronto was working their butts off to make some impression on the teaching workers and administration, if to not win a spot on the staff this season, to no less than make a optimistic impression for the longer term.
For essentially the most half, Toronto did a great job shutting down the Senators, who iced a lot of the gamers we count on to see recurrently as soon as the common season begins. In line with Naturalstattrick.com, the Maple Leafs restricted Ottawa to only three Excessive-Hazard Scoring Probabilities at 5-on-5 and 5 Excessive-Hazard Scoring Probabilities total.
Maple Leafs Open the Scoring
Toronto opened the scoring within the sport at 6:29 of the primary interval. Throughout a rugby-like scrum following a faceoff within the Ottawa zone that noticed all 5 Senators’ gamers and the three Toronto forwards enjoying “Seize the Greased Pig” with the puck, Alex Steeves lastly bought his stick on it. He fired it between Anton Forsberg’s legs into the web earlier than Forsberg might react. Steeves, who has not been famous for his physicality previously, additionally led the way in which with eight hits within the sport.
Whereas no Toronto participant stood out as a dominant power within the sport, the road of Pontus Holmberg between Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann did have its moments. Each Robertson and McMann have been noticeable for his or her play with the puck and their tenacity with out it on the forecheck. Whereas Holmberg was not as evident, he put up one of the best underlying 5-on-5 numbers of any ahead. Whereas he was not on the ice for any targets for or in opposition to at 5-on-5, he was on the ice for six Pictures For and nil Pictures Towards, 4 Scoring Probabilities For, and nil Scoring Probabilities Towards. His Anticipated Targets Share was 96.72%.
Pontus Holmberg Will get Concerned Bodily
Holmberg has distinctive energy for an average-sized participant (6-foot and 190 kilos). That was evident when he shoved Senators’ ahead Ridley Greig to the ice late within the second interval after the 2 wrestled away from the puck. Holmberg obtained a deserving two-minute penalty on the play and may need gotten away with a excessive stick as nicely, as his stick did make contact with Greig’s mouth on the way in which down. The announcers mentioned it ought to have been a high-sticking penalty, however when Holmberg’s stick made contact with Greig, his face was solely about two toes off the ice. Whereas the maintain was intentional, the stick was unintended and never excessive.
Holmberg needed to reply additional for his actions when Cole Reinhardt challenged him later within the sport. Not solely did Holmberg settle for the problem, however he held his personal within the struggle. Every participant bought in 4 or 5 swings earlier than Holmberg gained the battle with a takedown, once more demonstrating his bodily energy.
On the backend, an under-the-radar UFA signing led the way in which in ice time for the Maple Leafs. Dakota Mermis, who signed a one-year $750,000 deal on July 2nd after enjoying 47 video games with the Minnesota Wild final season, performed simply over 21 minutes. He put up first rate underlying numbers as nicely. At 5-on-5, he was on the ice for seven Pictures For and 4 Pictures Towards. The Scoring Probabilities have been 5 For and 6 Towards, however the Excessive Hazard Scoring Probabilities have been two For and nil Towards. His Anticipated Targets Share was 55.3%.
The Maple Leafs Goalies Had been Glorious
Whereas the goaltending of Joseph Woll and Matt Murray was nothing to put in writing residence about within the first sport, Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby have been wonderful.
Stolarz stopped 15 of the 16 photographs he confronted in half-hour to publish a 0.938 SV% and a 2.00 Targets Towards Common. Hildeby stopped 10 of the 11 photographs he confronted in 28:44, posting a 0.909 SV% and a 2.11 Targets Towards Common. Hildeby’s first save was not a simple one. He went proper to left to rob Brady Tkachuk of a wide-open internet and a positive aim. Whereas Hildeby is destined for the Marlies, his play on this sport will assist solidify his number-one standing on that staff.
If there’s a battle for the Maple Leafs’ primary job, spherical certainly one of that battle goes to Stolarz over Woll.
The Unhealthy for the Maple Leafs
With the rating 1-0 Toronto later within the first interval, the Maple Leafs had a shift from hell in their very own zone. Following a faceoff loss by Logan Shaw, the fivesome of Shaw, Nikita Grebenkin, Easton Cowan, Phillipe Myers, and Marshall Rifai spent the subsequent 30 seconds chasing the puck round within the zone. It didn’t assist issues when Cowan broke his stick. After getting eight touches of the puck, the Senators labored it into the deep slot to Jake Sanderson, who rifled it previous a screened Stolarz into the web to tie the rating.
Just a few errors led to the aim. First, Grebenkin, the winger who ought to have coated Sanderson on the level, was down low beside the web on the flawed facet of the ice. Myers tried to dam the shot however failed and screened Stolarz. Final, Stolarz, who stands 6-foot-6”, was crouched low, attempting to look below Myers, and the puck beat him excessive on the glove facet.
Whereas the gamers have been within the preseason, this sport evidently confirmed that the referees additionally wanted some work. There have been a number of chintzy calls and missed calls on each side.
The Ugly
Nicolas Mattinen is a Sixth-round decide of the Maple Leafs in 2016 however spent the final two seasons enjoying in Austria and Germany regardless of being born in Ottawa. He may need made a mistake that ended his possibilities of stepping into different preseason video games.
With the Maple Leafs on the facility play simply previous the midpoint of the third interval, Mattinen went again into the Toronto zone to retrieve a free puck after the Senators iced it. Underneath stress from Zack Ostapchuk, Mattinen tried a weak peewee-type cross-ice cross to Grebenkin. Ostapchuk rapidly picked it off on the faceoff dot to the fitting of Hildeby. Ostapchuk took two strides towards the web and went backhand, forehand, backhand earlier than beating Hildeby below his glove and over his left pad.
That was the sport, because the Senators shut down the Maple Leafs from there.
What’s Subsequent for the Maple Leafs in Preseason?
The Maple Leafs play one other home-and-home. This time, it’s with the Montreal Canadiens. The primary sport is in Toronto on Thursday evening, and the second is in Montreal on Saturday evening.
It is going to be fascinating to see if Berube continues dressing the core gamers at residence and the wannabes on the street. Or will he even up the 2 squads?
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