The Toronto Maple Leafs lastly gained of their third pre-season sport. This time, they beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. The Canadiens had not misplaced a preseason sport earlier than final night time. What had been the sport’s good, unhealthy, and ugly features for the Blue & White?
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The Good for the Maple Leafs
Toronto opened the scoring within the sport at 10:12 of the primary interval on the facility play after Christian Dvorak took a holding penalty towards Bobby McMann at 9:26. Mitch Marner threaded a go via three Montreal gamers from the purpose proper onto John Tavares’ stick. Tavares had positioned himself in conjunction with the online to the appropriate of Canadiens’ goalie Jakob Dobes. All he needed to do was hold his stick on the ice because the go from Marner deflected off it and behind Dobes into the online. Morgan Rielly acquired the secondary help on the play.
Nick Robertson acquired the game-winner at 18:04 of the second interval when he stripped Adam Engstrom of the puck within the Montreal zone, took just a few strides towards the Montreal web, fought off a hook by Engstrom, and beat Dobes between the legs.
The Maple Leafs Shut Down the Canadiens
The Maple Leafs shut the Canadiens down the entire sport. In response to Naturalstatrick.com Montreal, they’d one Excessive-Hazard Scoring Likelihood within the first interval, two within the second, and another within the third, giving them simply 4 Excessive-Hazard Scoring Probabilities within the sport in all conditions. That included three energy performs. Watching the sport, I observed that the primary two intervals had been performed virtually solely in Montreal’s finish of the ice.
There’s a caveat to that, although. The Canadiens had been icing a group that consisted of prospects and gamers preventing for a spot on the opening day roster, and none of their core gamers; on the identical time, Toronto iced largely gamers who could be on their opening night time roster, besides those that had been damage, which we are going to get to later.
Easton Cowan Lastly Had a Strong Pre-Season Recreation
The road of Max Domi, centering Marner and Easton Cowan, was the most effective line on the ice for both group. They used their velocity and playmaking means to make it powerful for whoever they confronted to maintain up. After they didn’t have the puck, they had been dogged of their pursuit of it, once more utilizing their velocity to present opposing gamers no room or time to do something.
After not exhibiting a lot in his first two preseason video games Cowan confirmed what he can do on this one. He match proper in with Marner and Domi. Cowan had three pictures on the web within the sport, all of which had been high quality pictures. He additionally confirmed some defensive talent with a blocked shot and two hits.
Robertson additionally took his sport to the subsequent degree. He solely had one shot within the sport, the one he scored on. He didn’t register successful however was tenacious each shift, with and with out the puck.
After being the worst defensive pairing of their first preseason sport collectively, Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson may need been the Maple Leafs’ greatest pair on this sport. At five-on-five, they had been on the ice for 75% of the Photographs For and 73% of the Anticipated Targets For. Ekman-Larsson was particularly noticeable all through the sport for all the appropriate causes.
The Dangerous for the Maple Leafs
Max Pacioretty made a play early within the second interval, which I’m certain Craig Berube was not proud of. Berube has been preaching extra of a North-South sport that entails fewer dangerous East-West performs. Pacioretty tried to make a type of dangerous East-West performs on the worst location on the ice, simply contained in the Toronto blue line. After receiving the puck from across the boards behind the Toronto web from Chris Tanev, Pacioretty tried to hit Rielly, exiting the zone with a cross-ice go on the opposite aspect of the ice. The go went behind Riell, forcing him to cease, pivot, and attempt to choose up the go behind him.
The puck deflected off the tip of Rielly’s stick proper to Alex Barre-Boulet. Barre-Boulet discovered Dvorak breaking for the online. Dvorak cut up Rielly and Pacioretty, making an attempt to get well from the error, and went in alone on Anthony Stolarz. Dvorak went from his forehand to his backhand earlier than tucking the puck between Stolarz’s legs. The digital camera adopted Rielly after the aim as they often do after a participant makes a mistake that causes a aim, however this one was on Pacioretty. I’m certain Berube will let him know afterward.
Two Different Dangerous Features of the Maple Leafs Recreation
There have been actually solely two different issues on this sport I would take into account unhealthy. One is that regardless of dominating the sport for 2 intervals and doubling the pictures on the Canadiens 34-17, Toronto solely scored two targets. If Montreal had their greatest gamers within the lineup, this sport may have simply ended in another way. The Maple Leafs must capitalize on their probabilities extra.
After going into the third interval with a one-goal lead, the Maple Leafs turned the sport right into a boring snoozefest within the closing 20 minutes. That’s good. However, probably to indicate Berube they will play strong defensive hockey when defending a lead, Toronto appeared to overlook about offense altogether. They appeared pleased to dump the puck out of their zone, dump it deep into the Montreal zone, after which sit again. Whereas it labored, the Canadiens had simply the one good scoring likelihood within the interval, Berube let it’s recognized in his post-game presser that he was not proud of them sitting again that a lot within the third interval.
The Ugly
Robertson performed an intense sport. Nevertheless, he made one play within the first interval, and I’m certain he wish to take it again. With the Canadiens breaking via the impartial zone on a 3-on-2 and William Nylander making an attempt to skate again to assist out defensively, Robertson thought he would help Nylander by giving him a shove on the bottom along with his stick. Whether or not or not he pushed too onerous or Nylander was not anticipating it, Robertson pushed Nylander off his skates and onto the ice. As Nylander fell ahead, his head got here into contact with Dvorak’s knee. (Was Dvorak the one Habs participant within the sport?)
Following the play, Nylander left the sport and didn’t return. Berube acknowledged that after the sport, they saved Nylander out for precautionary causes and that he was wonderful. All we will do is hope Berube is right and that he’s okay. I’ve seen this play executed prior to now in Robertson’s protection, and it may work out nicely. For no matter motive, this one went all unsuitable for each Robertson and Nylander.
Maple Leafs Accidents Don’t Appear Critical
Relating to accidents, the Maple Leafs had been with out Auston Matthews, who left apply early the day earlier than. Once more, Berube acknowledged that it was a prudent transfer. John Tavares took an ungainly hit to the knee early within the sport. He returned to the bench in appreciable ache however returned after lacking just a few shifts.
Berube did shut Tavares down within the third interval. Tavares and Berube admitted the leg did “tighten up” as the sport progressed. Whether or not they’re minor or not, it’s regarding that every one three of Matthews, Nylander, and Tavares be held off the ice for precautionary causes. One other participant who was conspicuous in his absence was Matthew Knies.
What’s Subsequent for the Maple Leafs?
The 2 groups journey to Montreal for the return match. With the bangs and bruises the Maple Leafs have been buying, I count on to see the core gamers sitting this out. This can be the final likelihood for some gamers to make an impression. I count on cuts to be made earlier than the Maple Leafs journey to Detroit subsequent Thursday. That can be their second final preseason sport.
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