Photo Credits: Taylor White /The Canadian Press
The Toronto Maple Leafs began their preseason schedule tonight against the Ottawa Senators, losing 6-5 in overtime.
Although it was just preseason, there was some excitement as Toronto’s newly acquired players, Chris Tanev, Max Pacioretty, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, were in the lineup.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
3. Max Pacioretty Looked Good
Max Pacioretty signed a PTO with the Leafs a couple of weeks ago, and according to his agent, Allan Walsh, he will soon sign a contract with the team.
Pacioretty scored two goals and had one assist in his Leafs preseason debut, which is a good sign for him. Another noticeable thing was his speed—he didn’t seem out of place on his line with John Tavares, and he kept up with Senators players in races for the puck. If he can continue playing like this in the regular season, it will benefit him and the Maple Leafs.
2. Joseph Woll Was in Mid-Season Form
Joseph Woll started the game for the Maple Leafs, playing the first period and part of the second before switching with Matt Murray. Woll looked sharp in the net, making three incredible saves. As the game went on, he got more comfortable. Woll made 20 saves on 23 shots.
1. Toronto Has to Adjust to a New System
Toronto looked a bit lost with their new playing system. Under former head coach Sheldon Keefe, they played a fast-paced, run-and-gun style. With new head coach Craig Berube, the Leafs will adopt a dump-and-chase system. However, as the game progressed, Toronto adjusted better.
Learning the new system is something Berube and his staff will need to focus on as training camp continues if the Maple Leafs want to be a dominant team all around this season.
As preseason continues, the Leafs will have more opportunities to fine-tune their game. On Tuesday, Toronto is back in action when they hit the road to face the Ottawa Senators.
