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Leafs Defeat Flyers In Pre-Season Opener; Ralph Returns To The Airwaves

September 15, 2013, 12:08 PM ET [729 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Toronto Maple Leafs were victorious in their first game of the pre-season schedule, as Paul Ranger’s second period goal gave the Blue and White a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Budweiser Gardens in London, ON.

Nazem Kadri, Troy Bodie, Mason Raymond also scored for Toronto, while Doug (brother of David) Clarkson, Brayden Schenn and Nick Cousins tallied for Philadelphia.

James Reimer and Christopher Gibson split time in goal for the Leafs, while Steve Mason and Anthony Stolarz saw action for the Flyers.

The Leafs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half of the first period. Kadri scored on an odd man break, patiently holding onto the puck and beating Philadelphia goaltender Steve Mason. Bodie converted a Frederik Gauthier centering pass to increase the lead and free agent invitee Raymond scored on a short-handed breakaway. Philadelphia replied as a Toronto penalty expired, as defenseman Niklas Grossman’s point shot was deflected by Clarkson past Reimer.

Philadelphia came charging back in the middle frame, as Schenn converted on a Reimer rebound to narrow the lead to 3-2 and Cousins beat Leafs 2012 top pick Morgan Rielly to a loose puck to tie the game. Toronto regained the lead as Ranger jumped up as the trailer on a 3-on-2 break and buried the rebound past Flyers prospect Stolarz, who plays for the hometown London Knights.

The two clubs will face each other again at the Air Canada Center on Monday night.




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The game tonight also signaled the return of commentator Jim Ralph to the Leafs radio broadcasts.

The Leafs had decided to part ways with the knowledgeable and humorous color commentator, who had been part of the club’s radio broadcast for the last 16 years in June, but reconsidered the decision later in the summer, after the departure of backup radio play-by-play man Dan Dunleavy to become the heir apparent to Rick Jeanneret in Buffalo.

Ralph will again team up with veteran Leafs play-by-play man Joe Bowen, as well as with newcomer Jon Abbott on Leafs broadcasts on TSN1050 and Sportsnet FAN 590.


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