The Maple Leafs preseason continues. Toronto wrapped up their second game of preseason on Tuesday night. The Ottawa Senators defeated them 2-1 in the second game between the provincial rivals. In the first meeting between the two, the Sens came out on top with a 6-5 overtime win. However, there were a lot of positives to take away from that game. In this second preseason game, the Leafs struggled offensively.
Maple Leafs Preseason Takeaways
Dry Offence
The Maple Leafs played a much weaker lineup on Tuesday compared to their first game. However, that’s no excuse, considering that the Senators also had a lineup filled with non-NHL players in the first game against a very strong Leafs team. There were a few forwards who featured in the second game and also played in the first game. Those players are Matthew Knies, Easton Cowan, Jacob Quillan and Nikita Grebenkin.
Cowan was quiet for the second straight game against the Sens. He didn’t see much of the puck and never made an impact on the game. Grebenkin was looking to build off a solid performance on Sunday. Coach Craig Berube clearly has a soft spot for him. He saw more of the puck this game and showed that he can carry the puck in tight areas with speed. In a lot of ways, he’s like Knies.
For most of the night, especially in the back half of the game, Toronto couldn’t create many chances. While they were aggressive on the forecheck, there wasn’t any end product that came from it. The Leafs only got one goal on the board, and it was unassisted. Even though Alex Steeves will be happy that he scored, the rest of the team had nothing to show for it. However, there were a couple of bright spots.
Knies and Robertson
The second Maple Leafs preseason takeaway lies with the forwards. Toronto wasn’t able to get much on the scoresheet in this game. However, they had a breath of fresh air up front in Nicholas Robertson and Knies. Both of these young wingers proved that they have improved since last season. While they are both very different players, they made the same impact.
Before the game, Berube talked a little bit about Robertson. As he is one of the players competing for a big role in the Leafs lineup, the bench boss wanted him to keep his game simple. For the entire 60 minutes, Robertson never took his foot off the gas pedal. It seemed that he was skating as fast as he possibly could on every forecheck and backcheck. At times, when the 23-year-old would find the puck, he’d carry it up with great speed and great puck control. He clearly played with a chip on his shoulder, given all the offseason noise of his contract, and competition with Max Pacioretty.
Similar could be said about Knies. Over the last year or so, his ability to hold onto the puck and carry it over the blueline has improved tremendously. He is much more confident in trying to make a play or find a teammate rather than chasing the puck. However, that does not mean he doesn’t forecheck effectively. In fact, that’s one of his strongest traits. He’s projected to start the regular season alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, two players who do their best work with the puck. Knies will be a great complimentary player to hunt down the puck for them. He showcased that many times on Tuesday night.
Success on the Penalty Kill
The one key thing in the Maple Leafs preseason is their defence. The Maple Leafs may not have put up a great performance offensively. Despite that, they played a fantastic defensive game. Against what was most of Ottawa’s first team, the Leafs only conceded two goals. Even though they gave the Senators the extra man four different times, Toronto’s penalty kill didn’t hiccup once. Part of that success may be from the new PK coach, Lane Lambert. The other aspect of that success is the effort from the players, who blocked shots and interrupted many passes. It was challenging for the Senators to set up their units as the Leafs applied pressure constantly.
Some deserve recognition for their contributions on the PK. Both the goaltenders, Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby, who split the game, might’ve been Toronto’s best killers. They were solid, calm and composed between the pipes. They made some excellent stops in the process, including Hildeby robbing captain Brady Tkachuk on the power play.
? DENNIS HILDEBY OH MY!!! ? pic.twitter.com/cQoeJA29XK
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 25, 2024
Nick Robertson spent some time on the penalty kill, which is something unusual for him. But that didn’t bother him as he did a great job, he blocked shots and passes. Also, Bobby McMann, who is a regular on the PK, was also great. He took advantage of his speed to carry the puck up the ice, allowing the others to make a change.
Notable Defenceman From Tuesday Night
Many of the defencemen who featured in this lineup are depth pieces. Players who will be called up from the minors to fill in for injuries, etc. It’s still crucial for these D-men to show that they should be the first ones up when needed. Two players who made that statement against Ottawa were Conor Timmins and Marshall Rifai. Amongst the D-corps that featured, Timmins was by far the best puck mover. When he wasn’t on the ice, it seemed that Toronto struggled to breakout the puck efficiently or at all. He also made some noise as the quarterback of the power play, firing a one-timer that clocked over 97 mph.
Rifai was also very noticeable in this game, and not just in play. After the whistles, he wasn’t afraid to give back a couple of shots to Tkachuk or Nick Cousins if he felt they deserved one. He is also a very good skater, on his edges and his speed in general. As mentioned, he can get physical and doesn’t shy away from using his body. That’s a smart way to get on Berube’s nice list. In addition to that, he was re-signed to a two-year deal in the offseason. This means Leafs management likes what they see.
Main Photo: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
