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The Toronto Maple Leafs final pre-season game represented the last chance for some of their players to make an impression before the club makes it’s cut down to 23 players.
The Detroit Red Wings snapped the Leafs five-game winning streak with a 3-2 shootout victory at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday night
Eric Fehr and Travis Dermott scored for Toronto and Curtis McElhinney made 24 saves in the loss, who finished their exhibition schedule with a 5-2-1 record.
Toronto opened the scoring midway through the first, as Fehr deflected Vincent LoVerde’s point shot past Wings goalie Petr Mrazek. Detroit 2017 first rounder Michael Rasmussen tied the game late in the second and Matt Lorito put the Wings in the lead late in the third, but with McElhinney pulled for the extra attacker, Dermott tied the game with a seeing-eye shot that beat Jared Coreau.
Eric Fehr 1st Goal of the Pre-Season! (Audio Replaced w/ @BonsieTweets & @Jim_Ralph) https://t.co/zqXacwl3gZ #BringBackBowen #TMLtalk
— Goal Leafs Goal (@Goal_Leafs_Goal) September 30, 2017
Indications are that Toronto will make their cuts on Sunday, but it is unclear whether they will keep 13/14 forwards or seven/eight defensemen.
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock’s preference could significantly impact the club’s decisions. Babcock normally prefers to carry eight blueliners, which he did last season with Martin Marincin, Frankie Corrado and/or Alexei Marchenko comprising a fourth pairing taxi squad.
With forwards such as Josh Leivo, Fehr and Dominic Moore needing to clear waivers to be sent to the minors and blueliners Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman being able to move freely up and down from the American Hockey League (because they are on their entry-level deals), it is possible that Toronto will only one extra defenseman.
Defenseman Roman Polak saw his first action of the pre-season, paired with rookie Travis Dermott. The veteran’s skating did not appear to be any worse for wear in his debut and Polak continued to be a usual feisty self, throttling Wings forward Justin Abdelkader behind the net and clearing Detroit forwards from in front of McElhinney.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston indicated during the broadcast that Polak believes he will get a contract from the Leafs if he proves that he is healthy and Saturday’s contest provided evidence in that direction.
Travis Dermott ties it up with 1:06 left! pic.twitter.com/PpY12K0cnu
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) October 1, 2017
If Toronto does sign the 31-year-old veteran, it could mean that one of Borgman or Rosen will start the season with the Toronto Marlies, or that Martin Marincin will be placed on waivers to make room.
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