Lorentz, Matthews propel Maple Leafs to win in preseason finale

Article content material

Auston Matthews is paid to attain targets.

Article content material

Steven Lorentz shouldn’t be.

Properly, Lorentz received’t be paid to attain when he indicators with the Maple Leafs after attending camp on knowledgeable tryout.

Each the Leafs’ captain and a participant who’s in line for an opening-night job after incomes it in camp scored in Toronto’s preseason finale on Saturday night time at Scotiabank Enviornment.

In a 3-2 win in opposition to the Detroit Purple Wings, Matthews served up a reminder of what he does so properly, blasting a shot previous Wings goalie Ville Husso on a one-timer off a cross from Mitch Marner. That got here throughout a Toronto energy play within the second interval.

For good measure, Matthews deked by way of a few Wings to arrange John Tavares for a power-play purpose, and the winner, within the third.

An errant Max Pacioretty cross led to the primary Wings purpose, by Christian Fischer. Andrew Copp scored on an influence play for Detroit.

Article content material

Detroit couldn’t get one other shot previous Woll and the Leafs concluded their six-game preseason with a document of 4-1-1.

“It’s a pleasant to complete on a win,” Matthews mentioned. “Felt higher within the second and third intervals. As a workforce, we performed somewhat extra direct within the second half of the sport. It will likely be good to reset (on Sunday), have a few good practices and get proper to it (for the regular-season opener in Montreal on Wednesday).”

We apologize, however this video has did not load.

Play Video

GET LORENTZ A CONTRACT

If there was any small notion Lorentz had not secured a contact earlier than Saturday, he made it clear in opposition to the Wings.

He has earned a deal.

Lorentz’s purpose within the first interval was arrange by Ryan Reaves, who did the work on the forecheck to take possession.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Lorentz brings a bodily presence to the fourth line. If there may be some contact there as properly, all the higher. Lorentz additionally has price as a penalty killer. When the Leafs needed to kill off a two-man Wings benefit within the first interval, Lorentz was the Toronto ahead who was given the duty.

Article content material

Article content material

A fourth line of David Kampf between Lorentz and Reaves has been working collectively for a lot of camp and progressing alongside the way in which.

“They had been nice (Saturday night time),” Leafs coach Craig Berube mentioned. “I do know they received a purpose, however they only managed the play and made it robust on the opposite workforce, dragging pucks within the offensive zone and checking properly. That’s what we’d like. They’re a giant line.”

Lorentz mentioned he’ll head residence to the Kitchener-Waterloo space on Sunday to hang around with household as he awaits his contract information.

“It was a heck of a technique to end it,” Lorentz mentioned. “Our line, it was good to chip in.

“I blacked out a bit there, realizing issues have come full circle, coming to this rink as a child and watching (the Leafs) as a younger man, and having the ability to do this and put my arms over my head, it was a reasonably particular feeling.

Article content material

“We’ll see (a couple of contract). That’s out of my management. I did my half and we’ll see what occurs. I’m proud of the way in which I performed. It’s a deep workforce and so they have lots of onerous selections to make, and that’s an excellent signal when you’ve got a corporation that has that a lot depth.”

What does Matthews consider Lorentz?

“A strong all-around sport,” Matthews mentioned. “Performs very heavy, very direct. He is aware of his position to a T and he performs to it each night time. It’s actually essential to have guys like that.

“He has made an awesome impression. Off the ice, he has an awesome perspective and involves the rink with plenty of leap.”

Pacioretty is in line for a contract as properly after attending camp on a PTO.

We apologize, however this video has did not load.

Play Video

LINEUP NEARLY SET

For all intents and functions, the Leafs’ roster for Wednesday in opposition to the Canadiens is ready.

Article content material

Nonetheless, this was Berube after the sport: “We received robust selections, for positive. I’m not going touch upon it, however we’ve selections to make.”

Let’s take a look on the lineup, then.

Joseph Woll, backed up by Anthony Stolarz, went the space in opposition to the Wings and completed with 18 saves.

Woll’s greatest cease got here within the first interval when he stretched throughout the crease to disclaim Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. Woll is your starter.

On the blue line, Jake McCabe stays daily with an higher physique damage, and his spot within the lineup on Saturday was taken by Philippe Myers.

Will McCabe get again into the combo on Monday when the Leafs reconvene for apply on the Ford Efficiency Centre after a time off on Sunday?

“That’s an excellent likelihood, I’m hoping,” Berube mentioned. “He was rather a lot higher right this moment. We’ll see if he retains bettering tomorrow and perhaps will get again on the ice on Monday. It’ll be nice.”

Article content material

Towards the Wings, the pairs had been Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev; Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Myers; and Simon Benoit and Conor Timmins.

Timothy Liljegren was not within the lineup, one other indication of his decrease place on the depth chart.

At ahead, Nick Robertson (higher physique) skated on Saturday morning however didn’t play. Calle Jarnkrok (decrease physique) was not on the ice along with his teammates and nonetheless is daily.

The strains that Berube used in opposition to the Wings additionally included Matthews between Matthew Knies and Marner; Tavares at centre with Max Domi and William Nylander; and Pontus Holmberg between Pacorietty and Bobby McMann.

So long as Robertson and McCabe are prepared for Wednesday, they are going to be play. That will carry Myers out of the lineup.

Article content material

The lone query for Berube is who comes out if Robertson is nice to go.

If Berube is ready on his first, second and fourth strains — and we don’t see any adjustments to them if everyone seems to be wholesome by way of practices on Monday and Tuesday — meaning certainly one of McMann or Pacioretty wouldn’t play within the opener.

The deadline for basic supervisor Brad Treliving and assistant GM Brandon Pridham to make all of it match and get the Leafs right into a cap compliant spot is quick approaching. Rosters are as a result of NHL by 5 p.m. on Monday.

Liljegren might be a casualty. The participant himself sounded on Friday like he wouldn’t be stunned if he’s traded.

Defenceman Jani Hakanpaa (knee) and ahead Connor Dewar (shoulder) might be positioned on longterm injured reserve to begin the season, however neither is much off from returning. The standing of Jarnkrok is to be decided as properly.

Article content material

The expectation is that ahead Easton Cowan quickly shall be returned the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.

TIMMINS STEPS UP

Timmins put himself into the highest six with a effective camp.

“He’s performed properly, he has been extremely aggressive,” Berube mentioned. “At the start, (he’s) enjoying defence. It’s important to defend and be aggressive and do all of the issues there that we’d like. I like his puck motion. Strikes the puck properly, sees the ice properly, strikes it properly.”

Timmins, whose NHL profession has been stalled by accidents at varied occasions, has an thought that he’s in a great place.

“I really feel snug, I’m transferring my toes properly,” Timmins mentioned. “I’ve felt assured within the video games and like the place my sport is at.

“I’ve simply been anxious about enjoying my very own sport. I feel it matches properly into the system. Simply enjoying onerous, enjoying quick, transferring pucks up, and it’s been an excellent match up to now.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

Article content material