The Maple Leafs continued their preseason with a dominating win against Montreal Thursday night at the Bell Centre.
Despite sitting most of their top-line forwards, Toronto exploded for seven goals, handing the Habs their first exhibition loss 7-2. Scott Laughton led the way for the Leafs with a four-point night. The centre opened the scoring with a blocked shot, an end-to-end rush, and a blocker-side laser that beat Montreal Goalie Sam Montebeault at the 4:35 mark of the first period. Laughton beat Montebeault again, later in the first, tucking a Brian McMann feed off a two-on-one through the goaltender’s legs to make it 2-0.
The Habs kept it close for a while, twice closing the gap to one off power play goals. Mike Matheson netted Montreal’s first at 16:26 of period one to make the score 2-1. Patrick Laine scored on the man advantage in the second period to make it 3-2. But that was the end of Montreal’s offence, which for the majority of the game was stifled by a noticeably quicker Leafs’ team, which only allowed 13 shots.
Dennis Hildeby started in net for Toronto and played the entirety of the game, making 11 saves. McCann added his second goal of the preseason to go along with an assist. Winger Steven Lorentz plated two, including a power-play goal. Matt Benning added one, and prospect Ryan Tverberg finished the scoring with a highlight-reel goal, going end to end after dropping to one knee, out-skating both Montreal defenders, and popping one in over the shoulder of Hab’s substitute goaltender Jacob Fowler.
Toronto will face off against Montreal again Saturday Evening at the Scotiabank Arena.
