In their fourth preseason game, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. There is plenty to appreciate about this performance as a team. Nicholas Robertson’s two goals was all the Leafs needed to win their second consecutive preseason game. The more the Maple Leafs play in the preseason, the more evident Craig Berube’s style of play is. After hiring in May, Toronto’s bench manager managed the club for around four months. He has often conveyed his vision for his team’s performance to the media. The Leafs should play simply, quick, and tough, according to Berube.
As the Leafs advance in their preseason, Berube’s hockey approach is starting to take shape. Compared to past years, Toronto has clearly become more physical. Although brawls in the preseason are uncommon, the Leafs have not held back when it comes to using their tools. Five fights have broken out in their four preseason games, two of which took place in Saturday’s matchup with the Habs.
It takes more than just throwing punches at your opponent to be a tough hockey team, though. Under Sheldon Keefe, it was usual for players to forecheck by a player around the boards in previous seasons. A Leafs player seldom fails to complete a check on the forecheck these days, though. Ultimately, Berube expects that kind of toughness from his group.
The Leafs have excelled on special teams in preseason in addition to their aggressiveness. Despite being shorthanded 19 times, they have not yet allowed a power-play goal to be scored. While the team’s penalty kill has been excellent lately, throughout the regular season the team’s discipline has to be improved. The Leafs were shorthanded seven times on Saturday. They did, however, play aggressively, deny their opponent any time with the puck, and break up several passes with moving sticks. It’s also important to remember that the Canadiens had a far superior lineup than the Maple Leafs.
In addition to Nick Robertson, who steals the show and scores Toronto’s final three goals in the preseason, a few other people also merit praise. Against a Montreal club that can compete in the NHL, Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby was outstanding. He finished the game with a.963 save percentage, stopping 26 of 27 shots on goal. With Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll together, he is unlikely to reach the NHL roster. Still, he left a lasting impression on the new coach and shown his ability to compete with NHL regulars. The 6-foot-7 goalie played Nick Suzuki and company with ease and steadiness throughout the evening. He was close to recording a shutout—less than two minutes. Unfortunately for him, the Habs capitalized when their keeper was withdrawn, and he lost his stick.
One other bright light for the Leafs in this game is someone who doesn’t receive enough credit. During the Leafs preseason, Conor Timmins, a defender from Toronto, has performed admirably. Despite not being a particularly tough player, he showed off his underappreciated puck abilities in the two games in which he appeared. While leading the first unit on the power play, he received an assist. He’s often the reason the Leafs can have a clean breakthrough. This is a result of his capacity to carry the ball out of his zone or make a stretch throw. The name Timmins has been floated as a potential tradeable asset.Though it’s obvious that the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have room for him, he still merits a shot at playing on a third pairing in the major leagues.
