As much as we all love preseason hockey because it’s the beginning of the action after a summer of no hockey…Wow is it ever painful to watch.
Between the referee’s dropping the puck two to three times per faceoff and the penalties that are being called for slashing (another player’s stick) the game has no flow to it what so ever. I get it, don’t get me wrong I understand the league is trying to set the tone for face-offs as well as reduce slashing. There were a few incidents last season with players losing finger tips and wrists being targeted. But come on, there has to be a line drawn, and hopefully this crap doesn’t carry over into the regular season.
I’m all for improving the game, but some of these calls and removals from the faceoff dot are just over the top time wasting garbage. It’s frustrating for the players, you can see it on their face, the coaches are baffled of what the actual rules are and the fans, we suffer as well watching the game be delayed and for what? A faceoff is a battle, line them up, drop the puck and move on. It seems to me for years the linesmen love just getting those few extra seconds of air time removing people from the dot, and picking favorites.
Speaking of favorites, it sure seemed like the Maple Leafs winger Kerby Rychel was not exactly loved by the referee’s as it seemed like they had his number all night.
Last night’s game was interesting for the first couple of period with a beautiful tick-tac-toe goal on the power play which had Marner feed an absolutely beautiful cross crease pass to JVR who made no mistake putting the puck in the open net.
Marleau also snuck up the boards and picked up a loose puck and absolutely buried a snipe which was great to see as a fan, watching the former Shark and new Maple Leafs veteran score his first in the blue and white. It will be that much sweeter when it’s regular season!
Andersen looked pretty sharp in his preseason debut, but obviously a bit of rust to knock off before October 4th. These are much better circumstances for Andersen who started last season injured. Andersen will be a huge part of the Leafs success this season as we all hope he can build off an excellent season last year taking the Leafs to the playoffs with his stellar play and of course the glorious offense the Leafs possess.
No key injuries after two games is what matters most, not the score of these exhibition games.
If anything, it’s good the Leafs are being tested in preseason here to keep them humble as they get ready for 82 regular season games. They have a lot of confidence heading into the 2017-18 season so losing a few preseason games should light a fire under their rear ends and get them fired up as regular season approaches.
So far I would have to say that Travis Dermott has been the most impressive defenseman as the battle for the 6-7 defensemen’s position is still open. Marincin struggled mightily last night and will certainly have to pull it together if he wants to hold his spot on the Leafs bottom pairing.
Again, it's only preseason.
The Leafs won’t have their next game until Friday versus Buffalo at the Ricoh Coliseum.
Thanks for reading, have a great day.