Net results mixed in Mrázek’s debut
Canadiens 5 Maple Leafs 2 NEXT: WEDNESDAY VS. SENATORS
Petr Mrázek got his first taste of game action as a Leaf, and the new goalie saw what everyone else did Monday night: their penalty killing needs a lot more work.
Mrázek, a free-agent signing this past summer, was beaten to the glove side on a goal he’d probably like to have back. He also made some strong saves, but the Canadiens power play broke through for three goals in a 5-2 Montreal win before a crowd of about 7,500 at the Bell Centre.
“I felt good,” Mrázek told reporters in Montreal. “My first game in a while, so you want everything to go right and enjoy it, and not get hurt … I want to be a good (goalie) and be a great partner with Jack (Campbell).”
It was the Leafs’ second preseason game and the roster is nowhere near completion. Coach Sheldon Keefe continues to give opportunities to new players and hopefuls. But the takeaway from Monday night was a rash of needless penalties and an inability to kill them off.
Campbell, also making his pre-season debut, was beaten for two of the power-play goals, while the third got past Mrázek. They’re expected to share the load in net throughout the season, and their first performances were a mixed bag.
The Leafs responded in the final two periods, pressuring the Montreal zone regularly. Newcomers Ondrej Kase and David Kämpf notched goals, while Josh Anderson and Toronto native Michael Pezzetta each bagged a pair for Montreal.
Keefe liked what he saw from a line with Kämpf and Kase: “Kämpf did well on the penalty kill for us, and (Kämpf and Kase) had some good scoring chances.”
Toronto is 1-1 with four preseason games left before the regular season starts Oct. 13, also against the Canadiens.
á Marner watch: Mitch Marner hit the crossbar during a long Leafs power play (3:46) to start the second period. He also set up Adam Brooks for a goal in the second, but it was called off after Montreal successfully challenged for an offside on the play. Marner was the Leafs’ best player on offence, on a line with Brooks and Nick Ritchie.
“(Marner) sees the ice as good as anybody in the league, and it’s nice to play with a guy like that,” Ritchie told reporters in Montreal.
The new Leaf took on Montreal’s Ben Chiarot at the end of the first period, after Montreal laid out some heavy hits.
“The period wasn’t going well for us, and I thought a couple of guys had questionable hits,” Ritchie said. “Something had to happen.” á Kase open: Keefe will be giving Kase a long look on the penalty kill. The Leafs have him under contract and he’ll make the season-opening roster, but they need to see what he can bring. The six-year veteran played just nine games for the Bruins over the last two seasons because of injuries. He was tabbed for the second line in Boston last season, but suffered what was believed to be a concussion and was sidelined for more than 50 games. In his first game back, he played just four minutes and missed the rest of the season. He showed several flashes of offensive flair Monday with solid puck possession in the offensive zone as the Leafs found their game in the last two periods.
“He’s a very versatile guy,” Keefe said of Kase. “I’m anxious to watch him more. He has really good skills offensively, and with his ability to make plays and finish them. He is tenacious on the puck, he can move up and down our lineup and play anywhere we feel we need him.”
Kase said he was glad to get his first game out of the way: “I haven’t played for a while, but I think we had some good play out there. I’m happy this game is done, and I’ll be ready for the next game.”