Toronto Maple Leafs bounce back against Ottawa Senators
After being embarrassed 5-0 by the Ottawa Senators one night earlier, the Toronto Maple Leafs got their revenge on Wednesday, defeating the Senators 4-1 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Phil Kessel led the way for the Leafs with a goal and looked dangerous throughout the game.
"It's nice to get your feet under you, have a real training camp and get ready for the year," said Kessel, who turns 23 just days before the regular season starts.
After a shoulder injury kept Kessel out of pre-season and early regular season action last year, it was Kessel’s first exhibition game in a Leafs uniform. Heading into training camp, Kessel
was focused on increasing his fitness level. Head coach Ron Wilson admitted that he sees a difference with Kessel.
"What you see is, he's faster longer," Wilson said. "I don't necessarily think he's quicker. Last year he showed lots of flashes, but he couldn't sustain it for a whole game. I think now,
with all the training he did this summer, you just see it lasts longer. In the third period he's just as fast as he is in the first period."
In contrast to their game in Ottawa on Tuesday, the Leafs dressed a much more experienced line up.
Kessel scored his goal with his patented quick, low snapshot on a five-on-three man advantage in the first period. Leafs’ forwards Nikolai Kulemin and Luca Caputi also scored power play
goals in the first. Last season, the Leafs finished with the National Hockey League’s worst power plays and Wilson was happy with what he saw.
"Little bit closer to what I would hope our power play would look like," Wilson said.
On Tuesday in Ottawa, the Leafs failed to score on eight power play opportunities.
Caputi, who will be relied on to score this season, also set up Mikhail Grabovski for the Leafs fourth goal.
"It's no secret, that's what I do," said Caputi, who turns 22 on the first day of October. "Get pucks deep, work down low and then I go to the net and look for rebounds. It just so happened
it worked out tonight and I'm looking forward to creating more opportunities like that."
Wilson also liked what he saw in Caputi on Wednesday.
"Luca had a really good game," Wilson said.
Forward Nick Foligno scored the lone goal for the Senators who were without regulars such as Jason Spezza and captain Daniel Alfredsson. Notable absences for the Leafs were defencemen
Tomas Kaberle and captain Dion Phaneuf.
Tags: