Game Review: Preseason Game #4, Senators 4 vs. Maple Leafs 3 (SO)

A Leafs team that was short on energy after playing back to back and a veteran group short on effort gave the fans little to cheer about consistently. A fairly boring game—even by preseason standards.

Player Notes:

• James van Riemsdyk – Very good game for JVR. Had a number of good chances, was trying unlike a lot of the team.
• Mike Santorelli – Another good showing for Santorelli. Even in back-to-back games, he kept his legs moving all night, was hard on pucks, showed some good hands and was a consistent performer.
• Phil Kessel – Certainly not a game he was challenged in. It’s pre-season. Set up a goal and probably could have drained two.
• William Nylander – Even in back to backs, he looked more composed with the puck tonight, but had a few mea culpas: one a backhand saucer pass that got picked off at the opposing blue line and predictably ended up in the back of his own net. His talent levels are on display for all to see, but was holding onto the puck a little too long, playing on the outside too much, and was taking some lazy long turns transitioning onto defence.
• Nazem Kadri – Kadri had a vintage Naz goal to open the scoring on a great shift with he, Nylander and Gardiner. Looked dangerous all night, but he too had a bad clearing attempt out of the dzone that ended up in the back of his net.
• Connor Brown – He had a handful of nice shifts, but was unnoticeable for long spells. Had a couple of shots from in close that you’d like to see him bury. Nice shootout goal.
• Josh Leivo – Rough game for Leivo. On the first two shifts he was hemmed in his own zone and was unable to beat pinching Senators defencemen. Got better as the game when on, but wasn’t a game to remember.
• Petri Kontiola – Jonas Siegel: “Petri Kontiola very upset with himself so far this preseason. ‘I’m not doing that well right now.’ Made no “excuses” on why he’s struggled.” An expensive tryout for Kontiola if this holds up.
• Brandon Kozun – Strong game for Kozun (again). Looked like yesterday’s game vs the Flyers was going to be an aberration, but he was noticeable and looked good—especially towards the end of the game.
• Jamie Devane – Didn’t notice Devane at all, except for a scrum after the whistle.
• Greg McKegg – Only eleven minutes of ice time for him. Looked OK yesterday, and played with Bodie and Devane with predictable results.
• Troy Bodie – Had a couple of good forechecks this game and not much else. His puck skills have always been limited, but I don’t remember them being this bad. Again, it’s only pre-season. Good tilt.
• Jake Gardiner – Looked great and was jumping up on the play whenever he could—and at the right times. Fantastic goal and threaded a needle through a seemingly impossible hole. Some soft one-on-one battles in his own zone this game, leading to a number of shots against, which he’ll surely hear about from the coaching staff.
• Petter Granberg – Didn’t love Granberg’s game today. Looked pretty tired and was a half second late on a lot of plays. I’m sure he’ll be better next game.
• Viktor Loov – A steady showing from Loov, but he had some looong shifts where he wasn’t able to quickly move the puck in his own zone.
• Cody Franson – Looked very composed 5 on 5, made a number of great plays and distributed the puck well but—again with the mea culpas—he tried a dangerous saucer pass to Gardiner that got picked off and ended up in the back of the net. As much as he can put up good numbers on D, he and Dion were victims last season of a lot of scoring chances and goals against by not being able to quickly move the puck on the point and making the risky or wrong move. This isn’t going to change.
• Stu Percy – Not a good showing from Percy tonight. He looked tired and his feet were slow. Back to backs in preseason are really hard for the young players, and he’s sure to rebound.
• Brendan Mikkelson – He was a bit of a creeper as the game wore on and was trying to make plays that he hasn’t been trying to in camp so far. Good to see, but he too was a mess in his own zone at times.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators

Game Highlights