The Toronto Maple Leafs begin their exhibition schedule with a pair of victories over the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.
The Leafs scored a come-from-behind 4-3 overtime victory at the Canadian Tire Center in Kanata, ON and a 4-1 victory at Air Canada Center in Toronto.
Toronto fell behind 2-0 early on goals from Shane Prince and Bobby Ryan before Dion Phaneuf replied for the Leafs to narrow the gap to 2-1 after 20 minutes. TJ Brennan tied the game in the second but the Senators regained the lead late in the middle frame on a power play goal by Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson.
Veteran Joffrey Lupul scored the tying goal in the third and game winner 55 seconds into 3-on-3 overtime.
James Reimer allowed all three Ottawa goals and was relieved by Garret Sparks, who made 8 saves and earned the victory.
Nazem Kadri and Dmytro Timashov added two assists for Toronto.
At Air Canada Center, the Leafs scored three power play goals(two from newcomer PA Parenteau and one from sophomore Stuart Percy) and a single tally from Nick Spaling. Michael Grabner had two assists in his first game with the Blue and White and Jonathan Bernier made 28 saves for the win.
The most impressive performers on the night were rookie William Nylander(who made an accurate diagonal pass to set up Parenteau for his second power play tally), Morgan Rielly(who registered an assist, led the club in hits (3) and TOI (24:16) and rookie Viktor Loov(who had five shots on goal).
Toronto takes on Montreal at the Bell Center on Tuesday and Antoine Bibeau is expected to get the start.
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Here are the lineups, line combos and starting goalies for each game:
Toronto vs Ottawa in Kanata, ON(courtesy of TSN’s Jonas Siegel)
Forwards
Matthias-Kadri-Lupul
Timashov-Holland-Boyes
Glencross-Arcobello-Kapanen
Hyman-Froese-Clune
Defense
Hunwick-Phaneuf
Harrington-Robidas
Dermott-Nielsen
Goaltenders
Reimer – starter
Sparks – backup
Ottawa vs Toronto in Toronto, ON(courtesy of David Alter)
Forwards
van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Brown
Grabner-Nylander-Setoguchi
Winnik-Spaling-Parenteau
Leipsic-Carrick-Panik
Defense
Gardner-Rielly
Marincin-Polak
Loov-Percy
Goaltenders
Bernier – starter
Bibeau - backup
Will update after the games with post game observations
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Listen to myself and former Toronto Asst GM Bill Watters discuss the Maple Leafs as they open the exhibition season on Monday:
See Previous Columns
Leafs Cut 16 From Training Camp Roster
When Will The Leafs Lock Up Rielly To Long-Term Deal??
Leafs Training Camp Preview – Center; Vesey Added As Scout
Leafs Trade Five For Grabner
Leafs Training Camp Preview – Defense, Fraser Signed To PTO
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