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Downtown Toronto will be busier than normal on a Saturday night, as the Blue Jays face elimination against the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre, the Argonauts the BC Lions in CFL action, and the Maple Leafs finish off their exhibition schedule against the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena.
The Leafs played a roster consisting mostly of minor leaguers and players fighting for the last few spots in a 4-2 loss to Detroit on Friday night. Nick Abruzzese and Rasmus Sandin scored for Toronto in the first period, but a lineup consisting mostly of NHLers took over the game for the hometown Wings.
Ilya Samsonov played well, allowing three goals on 26 shots in the loss, as the Leafs move to 4-2 in the preseason.
Ilya larceny!! pic.twitter.com/CZtAXiqr96
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 8, 2022
On Saturday, the Leafs made the first of a series of roster cuts, demoting forwards Abruzzese, Semyon Der-Argushintsev, Alex Steeves, Bobby McMann, defensemen Mikko Kokkonen and Marshall Rifai, and goalies Dylan Ferguson (on a PTO) and Erik Kallgren to the AHL Marlies.
The club also placed forward Joey Anderson and defenseman Mac Hollowell on waivers for the purpose of sending them to the AHL.
Matt Murray will go for Toronto on Saturday, and the Leafs lineup closely resembles what may be taking the ice at the Bell Centre on Wednesday, but there are still a few spots up for grabs. Pierre Engvall is listed on the possible roster posted on the club’s Twitter feed, which would be the big winger’s first action after suffering an ankle injury prior to camp.
The adventures of Joey Slick & Bradley Scarborough pic.twitter.com/TRojvjscGz
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 8, 2022
Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, and Filip Kral have played well in camp, but would not require waivers to be sent down, while veterans Adam Gaudette, Denis Malgin, Wayne Simmonds, Kyle Clifford, Victor Mete, and Justin Holl would have to go through waivers before being sent to the Marlies.
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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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