Coming into this season, there are a ton of question marks about this roster.
With over-the-hill veterans in key roles, a General Manager clearly in over his head and a core of young players that have yet to prove a damn thing in the National Hockey League, expectations are low.
Okay, a segment of the fan base seems to think they can make noise in an all-Canadian division and the players seem oddly confident but anyone paying attention can tell this team is deeply flawed. And realistically, headed for an inevitable last-place finish. Just as everyone predicted, the Toronto Maple Leafs are a mess.
The Ottawa Senators host the free-falling Leaves tonight at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Probably goes without saying but that was basically a perfect start to the season for the Senators.
While they sputtered a little bit out of the gate and spent some lengthy stretches in their own end of the rink to start the second, they stuck with it. Most importantly, they maintained their defensive structure and did a good job of keeping everything to the outside.
And then from the thirty minute mark on, it was clear that Ottawa just wanted it more than the opposition. Brady Tkachuk got the ball rolling with his goal and the Senators never looked back. Hard-work and intensity is going to be a huge part of this team’s identity and it was on fully display on Friday night.
Meanwhile, let’s check-in on the Toronto media after last night’s loss.
😐
DJ Smith met with the media and said there is a chance Colin White and/or Alex Galchenyuk could play but he hasn’t made a decision yet. Mike Reilly comes in for Christian Wolanin.
Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson
Stützle-Stepan-Dadonov
Paul-Tierney-Brown
Paquette-Anisimov-Watson
Chabot-Gudbranson
Reilly-Zaitsev
Coburn-Brown
I’d go back to Matt Murray tonight and if DJ calls me looking for advice, that’s certainly what I’ll suggest.
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM. The game is available on CBC, Sportsnet Ontario and TVA Sports.
Tim Stützle was two years old the last time the Leafs won a playoff series. Huh.
Here’s a table.
Here’s THE table.
| HEAD2HEAD |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 1-1-0 (2 pts) | 1-0-0 (2 pts) |
| Goals For | 4.00 (T-6th) | 5.00 (3rd) |
| Goals Against | 4.50 (T-24th) | 3.00 (11th) |
| Power Play | 44.4% (4th) | 20% (18th) |
| Penalty Kill | 62.5% (24th) | 60% (25th) |
| Shots For | 28.5 (18th) | 24.0( T-24th) |
| Shots Against | 28.0 (11th) | 23.0 (5th) |
| Leading Scorers | Tavares- 5 pts Nylander- 4 pts Kerfoot- 1 pt |
Tkachuk- 3 pts Batherson- 2 pts Norris- 2 pts |
| Starting Goalie | Jack Campbell 0-0-0 0.00 GAA, 0 sv% |
Matt Murray (TBC) |
