The Toronto Maple Leafs are halfway through the preseason. On Thursday, they got their first win, 2-1, over the Montreal Canadiens. Before getting into the talking points of this game, there were a few light scares in this preseason game for Toronto. In the first period, John Tavares, Chris Tanev, and William Nylander all received a knock of some sort. Tavares was hit in an awkward position along the boards, and Tanev blocked a shot with his hand. They both returned the very next shift. However, Nylander did not return after colliding head-first into a Habs player. He was pushed by Nicholas Robertson on the backcheck in what can only be described as a freak accident. With all that in mind, here are some takeaways from the Leafs’ performance against their historic rivals.
Analyzing Toronto’s Third Preseason Game
It’s been a lengthy summer for someone like Robertson. He submitted a trade request during the offseason because he felt that he wasn’t getting the minutes he felt he deserved. However, there wasn’t a trade available on the market, and at the same time, it made sense for Robertson to stay. At any rate, he’s in Toronto now, and he looks like he’s on a mission this preseason.
Nick Robertson Is on a Mission
He’s competing for a top-six role on this team with several other wingers on the Maple Leafs. The likes of Max Pacioretty, Bobby McMann, Matthew Knies, and even Easton Cowan are in contention. Robertson has always been known for his work ethic and effort on the ice. He never misses a forecheck and gets involved in puck battles. Although he has a small frame, he has a strong stick, and he showcased that on his go-ahead goal for the Leafs.
*Yoink* pic.twitter.com/CvCHakuV3n
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 27, 2024
After Thursday’s performance, Robertson could legitimately have a case to start the season on the Maple Leafs second line.
The London Line
Head coach Craig Berube set up Toronto’s first line to feature three alumni from the London Knights. Max Domi centred a line with Mitch Marner and Cowan on his wings. Offensively, this line was very dominant against a weak Canadiens lineup. They were creating chances regularly. Early on in the game, Marner really dominated. Not only did he display his excellent vision on a power play assist, but he also reminded everyone of his defensive abilities on the penalty kill. While shorthanded, he created a couple of chances by pickpocketing the Habs along the wall or in open ice. There’s no denying he has great hockey sense and anticipation.
As for Cowan, he was also great on both ends of the ice. He was much more involved in this game compared to the other two preseason games for Toronto. Even though his name doesn’t show on the scoresheet, he should be happy with his performance. It’s clear that he was much more confident and comfortable on Thursday. He put up three shots on goal and linked up well with his linemates, creating dangerous chances at the disposal of his own stick.
The Fourth Line
It’s not often where an analysis includes a discussion about the fourth line. However, after this preseason game, Toronto’s fourth line deserves the recognition. Under former coach Sheldon Keefe, the Leafs never really had an effective fourth line that was lacking an identity. However, with Berube behind the bench, there seems to be more of a purpose for those guys. On Thursday, it was David Kampf, Ryan Reaves, and Steven Lorentz‘s debut who rocked the fourth line.
This is a line that is very strong defensively, especially with Kampf and Lorentz. And in this game, they were getting the job done in their own zone, very efficiently too. However, they had lots of puck possession in the offensive end as well. The cycle game was strong on this line, and they worked it to the point at times. In size, this is a big line. For reference, Lorentz is 6-foot-4 at 216 pounds, and Reaves is 6-foot-2 at 226 pounds. It’ll be a tough task for any defence to shrug off those forwards on the cycle. In contrast, Lorentz is only on a PTO and not signed with the Leafs. Although, he might’ve helped his case in Thursday’s game.
Main Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro – USA TODAY Sports
