Photo credit: globalnews.ca

Toronto Maple Leafs Claim Pre-Season Victory Over Montreal Canadiens

MONTREAL – The Toronto Maple Leafs emerged victorious in both their NHL pre-season matchups against the Montreal Canadiens, securing a gritty 2-1 win on Saturday night at the Centre Bell.

Nicholas Robertson was the standout player for the Maple Leafs, scoring both of the team’s goals, while Kirby Dach netted Montreal’s only goal late in the third period.

The atmosphere at the Centre Bell shifted dramatically less than four minutes into the game when a collision occurred involving Patrik Laine, who had recently joined the Canadiens. Laine collided knee-on-knee with Cedric Pare and Jacob Quillan from the Leafs, leading to his exit from the contest due to injury.

The Canadiens attempted to retaliate through Arber Xhekaj, whose aggressive play resulted in a game misconduct, leaving Montreal facing a challenging seven-minute penalty kill. This incident compounded the Canadiens’ troubles, as they were already short-handed due to an earlier injury to David Reinbacher, finding themselves down three players within the first five minutes of play.

Toronto took advantage of their extra skater, with Robertson scoring after his shot slipped past goalie Samuel Montembeault. The Maple Leafs’ defense was solid throughout the opening period, effectively neutralizing the Canadiens’ offense and killing off three penalties without conceding any significant scoring opportunities.

Physical Play Dominates the Second Period

Beginning the second period, Montreal displayed renewed energy and pushed hard on the forecheck. However, the rivalry between the teams escalated, resulting in multiple scrums after stoppages and two fights, leading to a combined total of 73 penalty minutes by the end of the period.

Despite this increased intensity, Toronto maintained their grip on the game, allowing only nine shots and successfully killing off another three penalties, including a critical four-on-three against them, as they entered the second intermission with a 1-0 lead.

As the third period commenced, the Maple Leafs showcased a more aggressive strategy, utilizing their speed effectively against the Canadiens’ defense. Robertson nabbed his second goal after a swift breakout, slipping the puck under Montembeault’s arm to extend the lead to 2-0.

Though Montreal managed to pull one back with Dach’s goal, which came following an impressive passing sequence, it was ultimately not enough to turn the tide. The Canadiens pressed hard in the closing moments, even pulling their goalie for an extra attacker, but Toronto weathered the storm to secure the win.

Upcoming Matches
Maple Leafs: They will face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, while the Canadiens will be up against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

This pre-season clash exemplified the fierce competition between these two storied franchises, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting NHL season ahead.

Source
globalnews.ca