Up next: The Sabres are essentially a split-squad club for the weekend.
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Of course it’s just pre-season but to say this doesn’t help build the players confidence is nonsense.
Defenceman Stuart Percy, who scored a goal, was one bright spot.
The Leafs dominated the game in Toronto last night where Babcock was behind the bench. He was definitely engaged, moving up and down the bench like a magician going over fine details of the game and implementing his coaching strategy’s to the players as he gets his feet wet embracing his new role. “There are lots of things we have to fix”.
“We’re a work in progress”, Babcock said after his team’s first exhibition loss.
If the young forward can continue his progression and plays at a high level all season with the Toronto Marlies he could find himself high on the “look list” of replacement players for those shipped out at the trade deadline.
“I’m still not as good as I should be”, said Kapanen, who said he still feels rusty from the summer off. “Hopefully, there’s more games for me left and I’ll play better”.
It was a rare night for Toronto sports fans.
Nylander has been excellent thus far in pre-season, looking bigger, stronger and looks as if his two-way game has improved since last season. He’s dazzled by Nylander’s skill, saying “there’s always an opportunity for him to make a great pass or score a goal”. The group that will play Saturday’s game in Ottawa – which will include the likes of Jack Eichel, Kane and Tyler Ennis – came to Toronto in the afternoon and flew to Ottawa after the game to prepare for 7 p.m. contest against the Senators in Canadian Tire Centre. The Leafs need good starting goaltending in order to have success this season. “He wanted the puck tonight, which was positive”. Bernier will likely have a chance to strut his stuff between the pipes in two of the first three games, getting situated for a hard season ahead. Mike Babcock, the Leafs head coach, excused his performance, calling it an issue of fatigue following a hectic first week of camp, but Setoguchi seemed to sense how few such opportunities were for a player in his position.
Backup goalie, James Reimer stopped 24 shots.
The Leafs will be back in action tonight when they host the Habs at the Air Canada Centre.
The other side: The Mike Babcock-led Leafs did not skate in the ACC Friday morning, opting to work out in their suburban practice facility. But with more structure in front of them, the onus is also on Bernier and Reimer to prove they belong.
The former Hab was bought out by the organization at the end of last season.
The Leafs have Wednesday and Thursday off but do expect some more cuts as the Leafs trim down the training-camp roster.
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“There’s lots of scenarios there’s nothing you can do about”, said Glencross, who logged about 13 minutes against Montreal on Saturday, five of which came on the penalty kill.
