Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter *******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.******* The Toronto Maple Leafs were less than auspicious in a season-opening 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Wednesday, giving up a number of scoring chances, not converting on opportunities, and surrendering the game-winning goal to Habs forward Josh Anderson with 19 seconds left in regulation. Michael Bunting, Denis Malgin, and William Nylander scored for Toronto and Matt Murray was strong in his Leafs debut with 19 saves, but according to head coach Sheldon Keefe was hung out to dry by the club in front of him, who played disorganized and allowed a Habs club expected to be an NHL bottom dweller to carry the play at times. "It was early season sloppiness, but I don’t expect that. For everything our team has been through together, that’s unacceptable. We have to be way more responsible.… Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “There was nothing wrong with our effort, it was just careless. I expect more, our group should expect more. Not good enough.… The Leafs and Canadiens traded goals in the first and second, as Bunting and Malgin scored on the doorstep beating Montreal’s Jake Allen, and Habs sniper Cole Caulfield replied with a pair past Murray. Toronto had an Alex Kerfoot penalty shot opportunity and a pair of third-period power plays snuffed out before Sean Monahan scored to make it 3-2 with just over two minutes remaining. The Leafs responded to tie the game 40 seconds later on Nylander’s conversion on a two-on-one, but a bad Toronto defensive breakdown led to the game-winner, as Justin Holl’s errant pinch at the Montreal line led to an odd man break and a wild scramble that resulted in Anderson’s goal at 19:41. Keefe indicated at Scotiabank Arena in advance of the home opener against the Washington Capitals that things were said in the locker room after the game and that the message was clear that the performance in Montreal was not acceptable. Toronto plays Washington in their home opener on Thursday, who lost 5-2 to Boston at Capital One Arena on Wednesday. It is expected that backup Charlie Lindgren will start for the Caps after starter Darcy Kuemper allowed four goals on 29 shots in the loss, while the Leafs will go with former Capitals first-rounder Ilya Samsonov in his Blue and White debut. "(Playing Washington) adds a little extra element to it, but it's his first game. I'm sure he would want to put on a good performance, but he's just got to focus on the things that he's been doing through camp and preseason that have set them up for success." Keefe said. "He's played well, he's excited to play...(He's just got to) go out and do his thing." Washington will be without forwards Carl Hagelin and Tom Wilson, who are both on injured reserve, but will have Leaf killer Alex Ovechkin, who has 74 points (41 goals, 33 assists) in 53 games. Tweets by MikeInBuffalo *******
Have a great wkd everyone and Happy #Thanksgiving to our listeners in #Canada 🍁ðŸ˜
— LadiesTalkinLeafs (@LTL1917) October 7, 2022
In less than a week the #Leafs 106th #NHL season gets going! We get you ready for it with our guest @MikeInBuffalo! #Leafsforever #LTL1917
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