Well Leafs Nation, it’s time for your forlorn Toronto Maple Leafs – they of the 6 straight years of first round playoff exits – to lace ‘em up for the 2022-23 season. No matter how last year’s 54 wins and 115 points stand up – don’t matter. That was then – this is now.
Oh sure the returning veterans are a year older and assumably one year smarter. They’ve got a new bottom six, with the departure of Spezza, Simmonds, Clifford, McDonald etc. and replaced them with the likes of Jarnkrok, Ashton-Reese and Aube-Kubel. Heck, they even think that Dennis Malgin (soon to be Nick Robertson) can play up on the left wing with Tavares and Nylander on the second line. The top 6 d-men are pretty much the same with Sandin moving to the right side to play along with veteran Mark Giordano.
Biggest change and risk? Goaltending !
Matt Murray, a former Stanley Cup winner and last year’s burnout in Ottawa will start tonight in Montreal and rejected Washington goalie Ivan Samsonov gets tomorrow night’s home opener against who else, but the Capitals. Both reclamation projects have got to be motivated. They both looked strong in pre-season and have a lot to prove to a lot of people.
After a WAY too long opening ceremony at the Forum (Bell Center), the 2 teams got to show their stuff and their jitters through a pretty even first period. Leafs goalie Murray looked quite solid in handling many of the 8 shots he faced. Michael Bunting got the Leafs on the board off a nice feed from behind the icing line by Mitch Marner. 1-0.
Montreal came out of the intermission with a bang as sniper Cole Caulfield roofed his first off a fine 2 on 1 pass from newly minted Captain Nick Suzuki to tie things up quickly. Dennis Malgin put the Leafs back in front with his first Leaf goal, banging in a tip off Tavares after a nice Nylander slapper at 10:54. Not to be outdone, Caulfield tied it right back up with another roofer on an innocent looking rush. Newcomer Kirby Dach came very close to moving the Habs in front on a wrap around which was reviewed and determined not to have crossed the line. A late period penalty shot by Alex Kerfoot was foiled by Jake Allen to end the period at 2-2.
After a pretty dull third period, the Leafs put on a great power play exhibition with 5 minutes left – but no goal. Newly acquired Sean Monahan then proved his worth to make it 3-2 off a solid rebound with 2:30 left. The Leafs weren’t done yet however as Nylander combined with Tavares at the 1:50 mark to tie it back up. Martin St. Louis thought about challenging the offside possibility but backed down.. Good for him because Josh Anderson popped in the winner off an errant Muzzin clear to pot the winner with 18 seconds left. Pretty good game.
HOPPER NOTES: The very young Montreal D Corps stood up very well tonight, as did the legitimate NHL forward line of Suzuki with Caulfield and Anderson…guys I wish I had on my team: Brandon Gallagher…when will PK Subban re-surface ? I’m thinking TV analysist on TSN… please go to You Tube, search Hopper on Hockey for a weekly broadcast of unabashed Leaf fan discussion on all things Toronto Maple Leafs…comments please – CHEERS !
Horrible performance from our Leafs in my opinion.
Holl and Muzzin a definite weak link.
Matt Murray’s weak spot laid bare for all to see.
Matthews first pointless season opener of his career.
Pointless kind of sums up the team’s performance.