The Toronto Maple Leafs won 2-1 over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, as Jake Gardiner scored an overtime power play goal to give the Blue and White their third straight victory of the exhibition schedule.
“(Gardiner) was our best player by a mile here tonight.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game.
The 25-year-old blueliner had two points on the night, assisting on William Nylander’s tying goal late in the second, scoring the game-winner 16 seconds into the extra frame and leading the club in ice time with 25:15.
Babcock also singled out KHL import Nikita Soshnikov(who led the club with five shots on goal), rookies Dmytro Timashov, Travis Dermott and Andrew Nielsen for fine performances, but Nylander stood out for the second night in a row after assisting on PA Parenteau’s power play goal against Ottawa on Monday night.
The fine play of Nylander will have to continue throughout the exhibition schedule for the young center to avoid beginning the season with the Toronto Marlies. It is hard to imagine that the preaching of patience and the doctrine “over ripening” players in the AHL to be consistent with promoting a 19-year-old to the NHL, no matter how well he performs.
The truer test will come when opposition lineups more closely resemble what will be seen on opening night two weeks from now.
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The Leafs reduced their roster by seven players on Wednesday, sending four players; wingers Casey Bailey, Josh Leivo, Brendan Leipsic and center Frederik Gauthier to the Toronto Marlies, who open their minor league camp next week.
2015 draftees Travis Dermott (D, Erie-OHL), Andrew Nielsen (D, Lethbridge-WHL) and Dmytro Timashov (F,Quebec-QMJHL) were all sent back to their junior clubs.
The 23-year-old Bailey scored one goal in six games for the Leafs last season after leaving Penn State University and signing with Toronto as a free agent. Leivo is looking to bounce back from a difficult sophomore season and got rocked by Habs defenseman Alexei Emelin on Tuesday.
Leipsic scored 14 goals and 40 assists in 74 AHL games with Milwaukee and Toronto, while the 20-year-old Gauthier won gold with Team Canada at the 2015 World Junior and reached the Memorial Cup round robin with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic.
Dermott was a standout at the rookie tournament in London, ON earlier this month and played well in Montreal, while Timashov showed some impressive skill registering two assists in Kanata on Monday.
The Leafs will practice on Thursday and take on the Buffalo Sabres at Air Canada Center on Friday.
See Previous Columns
The Dual Rebuild, Lamoriello Leading
Leafs Sweep Split Squad Soirees, Interview With Bill Watters
Leafs Cut 16 From Training Camp Roster
When Will The Leafs Lock Up Rielly To Long-Term Deal??
Leafs Training Camp Preview – Center; Vesey Added As Scout
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