Toronto Maple Leafs defeat Ottawa Senators 3-1

TORONTO – Alexander Kerfoot had a purpose and an help whereas Michael Bunting scored his first for his hometown crew because the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Saturday night time.

Wayne Simmonds had the opposite purpose for Toronto (2-1-0), which received 20 saves from Jack Campbell.

Josh Norris replied for Ottawa (1-1-0). Anton Forsberg, who made 46 stops in Thursday’s 3-2 victory over the Leafs within the nation’s capital, completed with 26 saves.

Attendance at Scotiabank Area was introduced at 18,211 — the second straight residence date wanting a sellout.

Toronto was pressured into an uncomfortable scenario behind Campbell with fellow netminder Petr Mrazek (groin) and defenceman Justin Holl (sickness) each sidelined Saturday.

Pressed tight to the NHL’s wage cap — which stays stagnant at US$81.5-million due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s financial fallout — the Leafs didn’t have sufficient room on their books to recall No. 3 choice Michael Hutchinson from the minors with out sending somebody down and taking part in with 17 skaters.

Confronted with that choice, the membership as an alternative signed College of Toronto goalie Alex Bishop, who performed three seasons within the Quebec Main Junior Hockey League, to a one-day novice tryout to function Campbell’s backup.

Associated Movies

2:00
Leafs win season opener in opposition to Canadiens in entrance of 1st full capability crowd since pandemic started

Earlier Video



Subsequent Video

The Leafs received off to sluggish begins in each of their earlier video games, together with a 3-2 residence victory over the Montreal Canadiens on opening night time. However they had been on the entrance foot early in opposition to Ottawa.

Simmonds opened the scoring simply 2:12 into the primary interval after Toronto gained an offensive zone faceoff. Rasmus Sandin took a move from defence accomplice Travis Dermott and rotated down low earlier than feeding the bruising winger on the high of the crease.

The house facet doubled its lead at 8:06 when William Nylander, who has factors in all three of the Leafs’ video games, stole the puck from Ottawa rookie Shane Pinto down low. He fed it in entrance to Kerfoot, who made no mistake on Forsberg.

Toronto defenceman Morgan Rielly hit the publish early within the second earlier than Forsberg robbed John Tavares with a terrific glove save later within the interval.

The Leafs then received a 5-on-3 energy play for 66 seconds, however the Senators netminder denied Tavares on a one-time effort.

Probabilities had been few and much between for Ottawa, which trailed 53-30 in shot makes an attempt via two durations. However Tim Stutzle practically made 2-1 on a terrific particular person effort solely to be thwarted Campbell.

The Senators lastly broke via on a late energy play when Tyler Ennis gained a battle and Drake Batherson discovered Norris in entrance.

Batherson appeared to even issues up with 5 seconds left in interval on a breakaway that noticed his preliminary shot rebound off Campbell, off the Ottawa ahead’s leg and in. However Toronto appropriately challenged for offside.

Mitch Marner hit one in all Forsberg’s posts on a break of his personal 5 minutes into the third earlier than Chris Tierney discovered iron on the different finish moments in a while a deflected shot.

Bunting lastly gave the Leafs some respiration room at 7:57 after taking a move from Kerfoot on a 2-on-1. The chance regarded to have evaporated with Ottawa getting numbers again, however the Toronto native stayed with the play and fired residence his first in blue and white.

Notes: Leafs defenceman Timothy Liljegren made his season debut with Holl out sick. … Ottawa hosts the Dallas Stars on Sunday afternoon. … Toronto welcomes the New York Rangers on Monday. … Leafs centre Auston Matthews (wrist) stays out following low season surgical procedure. Head coach Sheldon Keefe stated Saturday morning he continues to progress, however there’s no set date for the return of final season’s NHL purpose chief to the lineup.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 16, 2021.

___

Comply with @JClipperton_CP on Twitter