Max Pacioretty hasn’t had a lot motive to smile up to now few NHL seasons. However in his first recreation carrying a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform, No. 67 was sporting the goal-scorer’s grin we noticed so constantly on his face throughout the most effective days of his profession.
The Leafs kicked off the pre-season on Sunday night time with a 6-5 time beyond regulation loss to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Area. The 2 groups will conflict once more on Tuesday in Ottawa.
Toronto was undoubtedly nonetheless in summer season mode via 40 minutes regardless of icing a lineup that included all its stars. The Leafs had however a single shot on purpose within the first interval and trailed Ottawa 3-1 after 20 minutes.
When the staff got here alive, although, the man in the midst of the motion was the 35-year-old who’s in camp on knowledgeable tryout making an attempt to show he’s put all his damage points behind him. Pacioretty, the previous Montreal Canadiens captain, scored a pair of third-period objectives simply 2:50 minutes aside whereas skating on a line with former Leafs captain John Tavares.
The tallies have been a window into what sort of function Pacioretty might play for this staff if, certainly, his terrible luck has lastly turned. In the summertime of 2022, he tore his proper Achilles tendon throughout low season coaching upfront of his first 12 months with the Carolina Hurricanes. After returning to the lineup midway via the season, Pacioretty scored three objectives in 5 contests earlier than re-injuring his Achilles on a non-contact play. The massive winger pushed on, labored to return from one more surgical procedure and after principally a full 12 months with out taking part in NHL hockey, he debuted with the Washington Capitals midway via final season and performed in each one of many Caps’ remaining 47 video games plus 4 extra within the playoffs.
Now he’s in Toronto after, eventually, a full summer season of regular coaching and prep, and he’s off to an exquisite begin within the pre-season. Pacioretty’s first tally got here when he skated towards the online and tipped dwelling a degree shot from Morgan Rielly. A pair minutes later, he skated in over the road and ripped off a shot that squeezed via Mads Sogaard. Positive, it was a weak exhibiting by the Sens goalie, however you continue to noticed the fast launch that was the hallmark of Pacioretty’s profession for thus many bountiful years.
Heck, Pacioretty additionally made a pleasant little affected person play with the puck whereas drawing an help on the purpose by William Nylander that tied the sport 5-5 with 22 seconds left within the third interval, then had a wonderful probability within the ensuing three-on-three time beyond regulation that Sogaard was in a position to thwart. Not lengthy later, Sens rookie Carter Yakemchuk ended the affair with an exquisite scoring sprint that makes you assume the seventh-overall choose from 4 months in the past might turn out to be a everlasting fixture within the Battle of Ontario fairly quickly.
As for Pacioretty, he’s clearly not in Toronto to play a lead function. However seeing him on an efficient third line with Tavares and — within the again half of the sport — teen Easton Cowan supplied a glimpse into how he may gain advantage the Leafs and assist lengthen the lineup with secondary scoring.
And let’s take a second to notice the opposite two members of that trio had good nights, too. Tavares posted three assists in his first motion since giving up the ‘C’ to Auston Matthews in the summertime, whereas Cowan — the 2023 first-rounder who rocketed up prospect rankings final season — bought a bump up from the fourth line to the third because of his hustle and heads-up play all around the ice.
However this night time was all about Pacioretty. And even when it was only one recreation, you couldn’t watch it with out pondering what a dream match there could be between new staff and hard-luck participant.
Talking of comebacks…
Matt Murray didn’t play a minute of NHL motion final 12 months as he recovered from bi-lateral hip surgical procedure. The sport towards Ottawa — his former membership — represented Murray’s first look in a Leafs sweater since a collision with Detroit’s Lucas Raymond knocked him out of a contest on April 2, 2023. Even when Murray allowed three objectives on 11 pictures — and, to be honest, it was exhausting to pin any of these tallies on him — it represented an enormous step ahead to see him wholesome and taking part in once more.
Murray took over for Joseph Woll simply previous the midway level of the sport, which was the pre-game plan. That stated, it’s too unhealthy Woll left the ice instantly after permitting Ottawa’s third purpose of the night time, a shot by Adam Gaudette that snuck between Woll’s left arm and the put up. Apart from that play, Woll did all he might to maintain the Leafs afloat, making 20 saves on the 23 pictures he noticed in simply 31:45 of motion.
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Knuckles Nikita
Nikita Grebenkin has had a little bit helium early in camp, largely as a result of new coach Craig Berube has voiced appreciation for the child’s hard-nosed method. That stated, the edgy Russian was fairly invisible for a lot of his first pre-season recreation with the Leafs. When Cowan was promoted to the third line, it was Grebenkin who bought knocked right down to the fourth.
Nevertheless, the 135th choose from 2022 refused to go quietly, getting right into a battle with Gaudette within the third interval after his demotion. Not solely did he drop the mitts, Grebenkin raised his arms on the best way to the field in an try to fireplace up the group and even exchanged a fist-bump — albeit via the glass — with a first-row fan whereas he was nonetheless juiced up within the field.
You’ll be able to’t blame a rookie for making an attempt to make an impression.