An Entertaining Home Opener

 

Photo From Sportsnet

The regular season began last night for our new-look Leafs, and they kicked off the new campaign against the Montreal Canadiens. Things got off to a rough start when Montreal opened the scoring three minutes into the game after TJ Brodie fell, allowing Jake Evans to score on a breakaway. Toronto would look to tie the game at one, but Montreal would have other plans as Alex Newhook would double Montreal’s lead.

Toronto seemed to be a little sluggish during the game and Leaf fans would go into full-on panic mode when Cole Caufield scored to make it 3-0, or so they thought. Toronto would challenge for offside and thankfully Toronto would catch a break and the goal would be called back. Momentum seemed like it was beginning to turn because Toronto began pressing and the Scotiabank crowd would have something to cheer for as the Leafs would cut into the Habs lead thanks to Noah Gregor. After this goal, the Leafs seemed to have found their stride because they began spending a lot of time in their opponent's end of the rink. Midway through the second, we would get our first look at the team's new powerplay coached by Guy Boucher. It wouldn’t take long but Auston Matthews would tie the game with his first of the season. This goal would also be a milestone for Auston as he would become the fastest Leaf to reach 300 career goals passing the legendary Darryl Sittler. Toronto would take the lead in the final minute of the second period thanks again to the powerplay as John Klingberg would set up William Nylander for his first of the new season and the Leafs and their fans would head into the intermission feeling good.

We would see the game swing back in favour of Montreal as Caufield who had a goal called back earlier would tie the game at three after his wrist shot deflected off the stick of TJ Brodie. Just over a minute later Montreal would pull ahead after a turnover from Max Domi in his end and Newhook would be credited with his second goal of the contest. With Toronto trailing the defensive blunders would continue as Timothy Liljegren who is trying to establish himself as a top-pairing defender for this team would fan on a clearance and the Habs would once again have a two-goal advantage. Late in the third when it looked as if Montreal was going to spoil the evening Toronto would begin their comeback. They would call Samsonov to the bench and with the extra attacker Auston Matthews would score his second goal from behind the goal line. With a little over a minute left in regulation, the comeback would be complete as Auston would complete his hat trick by sending a shot past a sprawled Jake Allen. The Leafs would get the game to overtime salvaging a point, but a shootout would be needed to decide a winner. Mitch Marner would score the game-winner sending the fans home happy.

What I liked about this game was the fact the Leafs didn’t throw in the towel and give up. I like how they kept working and found their back into the contest. By no means was it a good performance by the Leafs but we all know that they will surely improve.  Last night was a game that TJ Brodie will want to forget but fans let's not trade him after one game because Leaf fans are trigger-happy when it comes to trades. If the Leafs were to deal Brodie away there would be fans that say “Good, he needed to go” but then when he starts producing and having success those same fans will be crying the blues wondering why the Leafs traded him. We have heard all summer from Elliott Friedman and even Brad Treliving himself that this blueline is a “work in progress” so that tells me that changes will be made when the time is right. For now, and I know I have said this a lot, but everyone needs to take a deep breath and relax 81 games are remaining don’t stress yourself out over the first game. I also thought Klingberg had a good first game for the Leafs picking up a few assists. I think game by game he will become more comfortable, and we will see his game excel even more. Lastly to the John Tavares critics his collecting three assists in the first game shows that he is likely going to have another successful and productive season.

Again, the game was far from perfect, but this team will improve, and I am sure we will see positive steps on Saturday when the Leafs meet the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

Thanks as always for reading.