The Maple Leafs went through their paces at the annual Blue – White intra-squad game in front of a crowd of season ticket holders at the MasterCard Center in Etobicoke, ON Saturday morning.
Team White bested Team Blue by a score of 6-3, as Nazem Kadri, Mason Raymond, Jake Gardiner, Kevin Raine, Andrew Crescenzi and Jesse Blacker each had a goal, while David Clarkson, Tyler Bozak and Morgan Rielly tallied for Team Blue.
The goaltending duties were split between Jonathan Bernier and Drew MacIntyre for Team White, James Reimer and Christopher Gibson for Team Blue.
The 19-year-old Rielly was paired with Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf and impressed observers with his poise, skating and ability to jump into the offensive attack, but expectations for the 2012 top pick are understandably high.
“When you have elite level junior players that get selected where he (Rielly) got selected, you would expect there’s going to be some skill set that’s going to shine above other players.” Coach Randy Carlyle said regarding the young blueliner.
“When you see the things that he can do, the way he can get up on the rush, he has to continue to do those things into the next day and the next exhibition game.”
Others who were noticeable by their play were Kadri, who scored the opening goal on a defensive zone turnover and Raymond, who beat James Reimer on an odd man break in his attempt to earn a spot on the roster.
Carter Ashton also drew some attention with his feisty play, nearly dropping the gloves with Marlies teammate Jesse Blacker, taking a run at blueliner Carl Gunnarsson and slashing the hand of Leafs enforcer Frazer McLaren.
“I think with any young player, that you have to be noticed.” Carlyle said. “That’s the best message we can send as a coaching staff that you have to do something to separate yourself and that was a prime example right there.”
McLaren left the ice following the incident and Carlyle indicated that the enforcer was going for x-rays to determine the extent of the injury.
“There’s a high compete level in these scrimmages and stuff is going to happen around the net with sticks flying around and I’m not going to shy away from it.” Ashton said
The Leafs play the first game of the pre-season schedule Sunday when they face the Philadelphia Flyers at the Budweiser Gardens in London, ON.
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