[ad_1]
Breadcrumb Path Hyperlinks
HockeyNHLToronto Maple Leafs

Article content material
Auston Matthews is paid to attain objectives.
Commercial 2
Article content material
Steven Lorentz is just not.
Properly, Lorentz gained’t be paid to attain when he indicators with the Maple Leafs after attending camp on an expert 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 Area.
In a 3-2 win towards the Detroit Pink Wings, Matthews served up a reminder of what he does so nicely, blasting a shot previous Wings goalie Ville Husso on a one-timer off a move from Mitch Marner. That got here throughout a Toronto energy play within the second interval.
For good measure, Matthews deked by means of a few Wings to arrange John Tavares for a power-play purpose, and the winner, within the third.
An errant Max Pacioretty move led to the primary Wings purpose, by Christian Fischer. Andrew Copp scored on an influence play for Detroit.
Commercial 3
Article content material
Detroit couldn’t get one other shot previous Woll and the Leafs concluded their six-game preseason with a file of 4-1-1.
“It’s a pleasant to complete on a win,” Matthews mentioned. “Felt higher within the second and third durations. As a crew, we performed slightly extra direct within the second half of the sport. Will probably 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).”
GET LORENTZ A CONTRACT
If there was any small notion Lorentz had not secured a contact earlier than Saturday, he made it clear towards 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 nicely, 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
Commercial 4
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 have been nice (Saturday night time),” Leafs coach Craig Berube mentioned. “I do know they received a purpose, however they simply managed the play and made it robust on the opposite crew, dragging pucks within the offensive zone and checking nicely. That’s what we’d like. They’re a giant line.”
Lorentz mentioned he’ll head dwelling 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, figuring out 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.
Commercial 5
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 crew they usually have a variety of exhausting choices to make, and that’s a great signal when you’ve got a company that has that a lot depth.”
What does Matthews consider Lorentz?
“A stable all-around recreation,” Matthews mentioned. “Performs very heavy, very direct. He is aware of his function to a T and he performs to it each night time. It’s actually essential to have guys like that.
“He has made a fantastic impression. Off the ice, he has a fantastic perspective and involves the rink with a lot of bounce.”
Pacioretty is in line for a contract as nicely after attending camp on a PTO.
LINEUP NEARLY SET
For all intents and functions, the Leafs’ roster for Wednesday towards the Canadiens is about.
Commercial 6
Article content material
Nonetheless, this was Berube after the sport: “We received robust choices, for certain. I’m not going touch upon it, however we’ve got choices to make.”
Let’s take a look on the lineup, then.
Joseph Woll, backed up by Anthony Stolarz, went the gap towards the Wings and completed with 18 saves.
Woll’s finest 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 combination on Monday when the Leafs reconvene for follow on the Ford Efficiency Centre after a time off on Sunday?
“That’s a great likelihood, I’m hoping,” Berube mentioned. “He was rather a lot higher at this time. We’ll see if he retains enhancing tomorrow and perhaps will get again on the ice on Monday. It’ll be nice.”
Commercial 7
Article content material
Towards the Wings, the pairs have 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 towards 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.
Commercial 8
Article content material
The lone query for Berube is who comes out if Robertson is nice to go.
If Berube is about on his first, second and fourth strains — and we don’t see any adjustments to them if everyone seems to be wholesome by means of practices on Monday and Tuesday — which means one among 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 because of the NHL by 5 p.m. on Monday.
Liljegren could possibly 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) could possibly be positioned on longterm injured reserve to begin the season, however neither is way off from returning. The standing of Jarnkrok is to be decided as nicely.
Commercial 9
Article content material
The expectation is that ahead Easton Cowan quickly might be returned the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.
TIMMINS STEPS UP
Timmins put himself into the highest six with a advantageous camp.
“He’s performed nicely, he has been extremely aggressive,” Berube mentioned. “At the start, (he’s) taking part in 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 nicely, sees the ice nicely, strikes it nicely.”
Timmins, whose NHL profession has been stalled by accidents at numerous occasions, has an concept that he’s in a great place.
“I really feel comfy, I’m shifting my ft nicely,” Timmins mentioned. “I’ve felt assured within the video games and like the place my recreation is at.
“I’ve simply been frightened about taking part in my very own recreation. I believe it suits nicely into the system. Simply taking part in exhausting, taking part in quick, shifting pucks up, and it’s been a great match thus far.”
tkoshan@postmedia.com
X: @koshtorontosun
Really useful from Editorial
Maple Leafs season preview: From the crease to the bench, meet the brand new gamers
LEAFS NOTES: A safe Nick Robertson will get a brand new view of pre-season video games
Article content material
Share this text in your social community
[ad_2]
Source link