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One of many first issues Craig Berube’s sensed at his first Maple Leafs coaching camp was the potential of a heavyweight fourth line to present his new expenses renewed id.
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Ryan Reaves (6-foot-2, 225 kilos) and centre David Kampf (6-foot-2, round 200) had been already in place, however placing free agent Steven Lorentz (6-foot-4, 216) has been a really perfect complement so far. A crash-and-bang/vitality troika is hardly a brand new idea, however hardly ever has Toronto put a lot beef on it.
In Friday’s 3-1 win, they helped grind down the Pink Wings within the third interval because the Leafs clung to a one-goal lead, retaining an everyday shift as a substitute of Berube going to a shortened bench earlier than John Tavares sealed it with an empty-netter.
Lorentz got here from a Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup championship roster that additionally emphasised dimension.
“For me, it was a seamless transition from final 12 months, a gaggle that performed massive and heavy,” Lorentz mentioned Friday morning.
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“That’s what Kampf and Reavo convey as effectively. It nonetheless takes time to get on the identical web page for lots of issues, however when your mindset is identical as these two guys, not dishonest for offence and enjoying the precise manner, success will come.”
Berube likes that different groups are trying over their shoulder on the forecheck.
“Lorentz and Kampf are additionally killing penalties and doing a great job,” Berube mentioned. “Reaves is on the market … and folks simply know he’s on the market. He’s skating effectively. That’s what we’d like from them. It rubs off on the remainder of the crew.”
HALL RIGHT NOW
Triple Gold membership member Pavel Datsyuk naturally received the most important hand within the pre-game ceremony from a Pink Wing-flavoured crowd because the seven new Hockey Corridor of Fame members had been launched previous to Monday’s official induction.
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Among the many honoured members on the blue-carpet greeting line was defenceman Larry Murphy — who performed for each groups — and two different Leafs, outgoing chairman Lanny McDonald and incoming Mike Gartner.
“I do know a bunch of these guys,” Berube mentioned as he watched the parade of stars cross by the Leafs bench. “I’m going a good distance again with Lanny to the (early Nineties) in Calgary. Very comfortable for all these inducted.”
Jeremy Roenick additionally acquired a heat greeting, regardless that he’d executed his finest by way of the years to vex the Leafs, particularly at playoff time, saying he’s generally acknowledged on the street when visiting right here.
“The followers say: ‘We hate you, we hate you … aw, we love you’,” he chuckled.
ALL HANDS ON DECK
A wild third-period scramble noticed Anthony Stolarz make a save after his blocker received knocked off, then seize the unfastened puck along with his naked hand whereas mendacity on his again. He even held it as much as present the officers.
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“I received a bit out of place, (Detroit’s Lucas) Raymond was alone in entrance, my blocker received caught up in any person’s skate or stick,” mentioned Stolarz who has made just a few saves with out his aim stick of late. “I simply noticed the puck and knew I needed to get it out of there. No matter it takes.”
Teammate Mitch Marner was glad to see him escape damage.
“I didn’t know the place the puck was,” he mentioned. “It was a little bit of a canine pound in there. Good to see him come out of that with the puck in his hand and nonetheless all 5 fingers.”
FILM FLAM
NHL vice-president and builder nominee Colin Campbell was hailed as one of many founding fathers of video replay and the conflict room earlier than the sport. However there was numerous grumbling at Scotiabank Area when Nick Robertson’s aim was known as again within the first interval by Derek Lalonde’s coach’s problem.
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After some grounds for a penalty on Marco Kasper for bumping Stolarz had been ignored, Bobby McMann and Robertson went up ice with McMann getting a chunk of Cam Talbot as he buzzed the online and centred to Robertson.
Talbot was very deep in his web which ought to’ve helped McMann’s case, however the officers dominated McMann had nonetheless contacted his head. That worn out what would’ve been Robertson’s badly wanted second aim of the season in his a hundredth profession recreation.
HOLL AND NOTES
Former Leaf Justin Holl has been used sporadically thus far this 12 months, however received again within the lineup Friday.
Lalonde praised Holl for ready his flip whereas Detroit cycled by way of some youthful defencemen.
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“It was enjoyable,” Holl mentioned. “However right here (no Wings play any devices). So I’ve gone solo.”
PASSING POTVIN
John Tavares was flirting with passing New York Islanders nice Denis Potvin in NHL profession scoring all evening.
After Tavares’ power-play strike within the second interval, to present Toronto a 2-1 lead, it was famous that the official scorer had re-adjusted the primary aim to him after Marner was initially credited. That might’ve been level No. 1,053 to cross Potvin for 78th in league historical past, but it surely was modified a second time — again to Marner — earlier than Tavares’ empty-netter did the trick.
“I’ve an amazing quantity of respect for Denis and received to know him enjoying as lengthy there as I did,” Tavares mentioned of his predecessor as captain. “It’s particular when one thing like that occurs, whenever you checked out what he achieved in his profession and in a spot I performed.”
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LOOSE LEAFS
Whereas his delivery certificates was typically the supply of a lot hypothesis, Leafs Corridor of Famer Johnny Bower would’ve turned 100 on Friday … Whereas enjoying for the Coyotes, Roenick recalled working a hockey clinic in Phoenix {that a} younger Matthews attended … Saturday’s Leafs recreation in opposition to visiting Montreal will embrace a pre-game Remembrance Day observance … The Wings are additionally on a back-to-back, dealing with the Rangers at residence on Saturday. Ville Husso, who cleared waivers, was an emergency callup after Alex Lyons, who was supposed to begin in opposition to Toronto, developed a decrease physique drawback. Husso was to play in opposition to New York
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