The Toronto Maple Leafs opened up their preseason at home against their provincial rivals, the Ottawa Senators. The Sens got the best of them in an entertaining 6-5 win in overtime. There’s a lot to unfold, with many new faces wearing Blue and White for the first time. There were also several veterans in the lineup and players the Leafs could expect to line up on the opening night of the regular season.
Reviewing Leafs Opening Night in Preseason
New Coach and Style of Play
Straight from the get-go of this game, there was a noticeable difference in the way the Maple Leafs played. Even though it’s preseason and the opponent wasn’t at full strength, they would be in a regular season game, the coach’s systems and tactics are in play for the Leafs. In many different media availabilities, Leafs head coach Craig Berube stressed the same things multiple times. He talks about wanting to be a team that has an identity. He wants other teams to know how hard it is to play against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Also, it’s important to him for his team to play physically and to play “north.”
There’s no doubt that the Leafs put Berube’s philosophy on full display against the Senators. Starting in their zone, it was clear that there was one focus in the minds of the Leafs’ defence. And that was to get the puck up the ice as fast as they could whether it was looking for a forward to carry it out or a quick pass up the ice. Rarely did the defence hold on to the puck in the defensive zone.
In the past, the Leafs were known for their puck possession in the offensive zone. Now, there isn’t so much focus on holding the puck. Instead, it’s more about getting to the net as quickly and aggressively as possible. Toronto’s forecheck was also very aggressive, which is on-brand to Berube’s teachings.
Special Teams
Not only was there a difference in the way the Leafs played at even strength with the new coach, but special teams too. There’s a whole new staff behind the bench, including Marc Savard, who is in charge of the power play. In the past, Toronto played conservatively with the extra man. They kept the puck on the outside, passing along the perimeter with the rare instance of a shot from the point.
Now, the Leafs are much more direct in their puck movement. And, like at even strength, they look to get the puck to the net quickly. Another thing that was noticeable when Toronto had the extra man was star players Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner played deep in the zone. At times, Marner was found on the goal line in the corner, giving him the ability to see the ice to put his passing skills on display.
Late in the game, Toronto pulled goaltender Matt Murray to get the extra attacker while down a goal. In this situation, Matthews spent a lot of time behind the net looking for options. This was interesting because of Matthews‘ ability to score, and usually, he is somewhere in front of the net. Nonetheless, the Leafs equalized thanks to a goal from William Nylander with 22 seconds remaining to send the preseason opener to overtime.
The Young Guys
Several players had impressive performances in this game, and from a wide range of ages too. Starting with some impressive youngsters such as Matthew Knies, Nikita Grebenkin, and Easton Cowan.
Knies opened the scoring for Toronto from a Marner pass in the second period. Apart from the goal, the 22-year-old was all over the ice and was very noticeable. It was revealed that he gained ten pounds from the start of last season’s training camp, and it showed. He is an effective player along the boards because he can use his size to his advantage. The winger is 6-foot-3, 227 pounds. The Leafs have a dangerous player when you put all that together with his great hands and ability to score.
Similar could be said about Grebenkin. The Russian forward showed some great skill and grit, including a fight in the middle frame. It seems that he’s already becoming a fan favourite after he pumped up the crowd following his tilt. He also fist-bumped a fan through the glass while sitting in the box serving his five-minute major. To add to the good-feel moment for Grebenkin, he also received a fist bump from the bench boss. A good sign for someone looking to make the lineup.
Nikita Grebenkin skates to the bench after getting out of the box for his fight and gets a fist bump from Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube.
— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) September 23, 2024
Ryan Reaves was also involved in a fight. Two fights in this preseason tilt between the Leafs and Sens.
The Veterans
While those young players had great games, the veterans really stood out. Max Pacioretty and John Tavares graced the third line together throughout the game. Cowan and Grebenkin split time on that line with the two veterans. While some fans would be skeptical with two players well past their primes to play on the same line, it was better than expected. In fact, it was Toronto’s best line.
Pacioretty and Tavares scored three points each, including two goals from the former Montreal Canadiens captain. Even though it’s expected that the Leafs will sign Pacioretty from his PTO, it was probably cemented in this preseason opener. Not only did he get those two goals, but he and Tavares connected on Nylander’s equalizing goal with the goalie pulled. It’s clear that Berube trusts Pacioretty as he finished the game with over 15 minutes of ice time and a plus-two.
Chris Tanev, another new veteran that fans were intrigued to see in a Leafs uniform, was also great in game one of preseason. It’s only one game, but he plays as advertised. He’s a heavy player who pushes opposing players to the outside. He got in front of four shots, played over 21 minutes, and was a plus-one on the night. Additionally, he provided two assists on the night.
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
