Toronto Maple Leafs

Grabovski leads the Leafs over the Senators

September 28, 2011

What started out as a rough night for the Toronto Maple Leafs ended up being a character building (albeit preseason) victory. The Leafs overcame an early 2-0 deficit on the road to defeat the Ottawa Senators 5-3. Rookie Mika Zibanajed and Zach Smith both struck within the first ten minutes of the first period, capitalizing on poor defensive coverage and sloppy rebound control by James Reimer. Mikhail Grabovski's shorthanded two on one wrister seemed to wake the Leafs up and kick started the comeback.

Down 3-2 after one period of play, Nikolai Kulemin demonstrated his strength and speed by blowing by the Senators defense and jamming home the tying goal. ...

Fake Game #6 Senators vs Leafs

September 27, 2011

Marco Perruzza

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Following two days of practice and a round of roster cuts the Leafs are back in action tonight against the Ottawa Senators. The Leafs are coming off of back to back losses at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, leaving them with a 2-3-0 preseason record. A record, it should be said, that many people are taking too seriously. The Senators are looking to rebound from a loss last night against the Winnipeg Jets.

With the final week of training camp upon us, look for the games to be slightly more intense. Veterans generally ramp it up this week, and rookies push to make an impression. Expect fewer turnovers and a focus on special teams execution.

Lineups

Leafs

Lupul...

Sabres Take Down Marlies

September 24, 2011

Marco Perruzza

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The Buffalo Sabres remained perfect with a 3-2 victory Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sabres swept a weekend home and home series against the Leafs on the strength of two one goal victories. Pretty much playing their expected opening night lineup, the Sabres managed to capitalize with the man advantage scoring all their goals while on the power play. The Leafs iced a heavy AHL team, and were certainly overmatched on this night. Considering the quality of the two teams the Leafs still managed to be in this game until the final whistle.

Jonas Gustavsson still had some problems positionally on the night, but he managed to keep the Lea...

Fake Game #5 Sabres Vs Leafs

September 24, 2011

Marco Perruzza

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The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres will face off tonight in the back half of a home and home series in Buffalo.

The Leafs will look to avenge a narrow defeat at the hands of their North East Divisional rivals, while the Sabres will try to sweep the Leafs and continue a perfect preseason. After last nights entertaining preseason af...

Miller Outduels Reimer

September 24, 2011

Marco Perruzza

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The Buffalo Sabres remained perfect on the preseason by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 at the Air Canada Centre last night. With both teams dressing many regulars, as well as having their expected number 1 goalies playing the entire evening, fans were treated to a great preseason tilt. Ryan Miller and James Reimer were outstanding on the night matching each other save for save.

Fake Game #4 Leafs Vs. Sabres

September 23, 2011

Marco Perruzza

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The Toronto Maple Leafs will host their North East Division rival Buffalo Sabres tonight at the Air Canada Centre. The Leafs are coming off of a 4-2 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. While the Sabres, having won their first two games, are looking to remain perfect with a win tonight.

The Leafs will be icing most of their opening night lineup, so expectations will be high among fans. The Sabres have plenty of regulars scheduled to go as well. Expect an entertaining affair between these two rivals.

Lineups

Leafs

Lupul – Connolly – Kessel

MacArthur – Grabovski – Kulemin

Kadi – Boyce – Frattin

C...

Flyers Drop Bryzgalov's Preseason Debut

September 21, 2011

Mark Trible

1 Comment

A day after opening their preseason with a victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers took the ice for their second contest of the exhibition season. Their opponent? The Maple Leafs, again. Although on Wednesday, the result (as well as the roster) was quite different than Tuesday’s. In the end, goalie Ilya Bryzgalov’s debut in orange ended with a 4-2 defeat at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

It wasn’t the crispest of performances by the Flyers, but that’s to be expected in the preseason. Toronto showed a bit of what the Flyers had displayed on Tuesday, steady skating and continued pressure that proved to be much of the difference in...

Young Guns Come Through

September 21, 2011

Marco Perruzza

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The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Wednesday night to run their record to 2-1-0 in the preseason. This game was the third in three nights for the buds.

The Leafs avenged the 4-0 shutout victory that the Flyers earned the night before. The Leafs and Flyers again iced heavy AHL lineups, but on this occasion the future Marlies all contributed. The Leafs got two goals from Matt Frattin and singles from both Juraj Mikus and Joe Colborne. However only Mikus' marker was a 'clean' goal. Colborne and Frattin's first goal were aided by lucky bounces, while Frattin potted his second into an empty net. Mikus also added an assist to go along with a st...

Leafs vs Flyers Fake Game Part 2

September 21, 2011

Marco Perruzza

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After yesterdays over hyped sibling rivalry storyline, the Leafs and Flyers ironically will meet again tonight in the city of brotherly love. The Leafs will attempt to have...

Youngsters, Bobrovsky Fuel Flyers

September 20, 2011

Mark Trible

1 Comment

In their first preseason contest of the year, the Philadelphia Flyers got off on the right skate with a 4-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. It would be some newcomers and youngsters that led the way, along with a stellar game from goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

After a first period that saw the two teams both play tentative hockey, the second period was a much different story. It would be an unlikely source that would be the first to put a number on the scoreboard. Tough guy Zac Rinaldo finally solved the puzzle of Toronto goalie James Reimer with 13:35 remaining in the second period. He took a centering pass from Matt Read and went in on Reimer using an incredible diving shot to be...