Ritchie taking time to regulate … Refs, Maple Leafs working it out
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Jack Campbell’s mindset received’t change.
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Not that we anticipated it might.
With Petr Mrazek doubtless out of the Maple Leafs lineup for a substantial stretch after struggling a groin harm on Thursday evening in Ottawa, it will likely be Campbell’s duty to hold the load in internet.
Because the Leafs’ plan shifts from having a goaltending tandem with Campbell and Mrazek, Campbell doesn’t have doubt in himself and neither do his teammates.
“Soupy has been a rock for us each time he goes in there,” veteran ahead Jason Spezza mentioned after the Leafs misplaced 3-2 in Ottawa on Thursday evening. “We have now tons of confidence in him.”
There was nothing official from the Leafs on Friday throughout a workforce time without work, however the expectation is that goaltender Michael Hutchinson will probably be on the ice with the workforce for the morning skate on Saturday at Scotiabank Area in preparation for the rematch with the Senators.
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Goalies typically don’t get well shortly from groin accidents. Probably the most the Leafs can hope for, maybe, is that the difficulty received’t hold Mrazek, who has been hit with accidents at numerous instances throughout his NHL profession, out for the long run.
WAITING ON RITCHIE
The leash for large winger Nick Ritchie to get comfy and impactful for the Leafs has some slack to it.
When you like accentuating the constructive, you then may level out that Ritchie has a team-high six hits by means of two video games. That will be about it. Regardless of his measurement, the 6-foot-3, 236-pound Ritchie hasn’t been overly noticeable.
The 25-year-old has simply two photographs on purpose and the chemistry he had with Mitch Marner within the pre-season has not carried over.
“He simply has to seek out this recreation,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “Everyone’s adjusting. We play pre-season hockey and all that, however this can be a completely different beast.
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“You’re discovering your method coming from pre-season hockey to this hockey the place it’s faster, it’s extra aggressive, your chances are high more durable to return by. He has been within the league a very long time. He’ll determine that out.”
As for Pierre Engvall, the winger adopted what most likely was his greatest recreation in a Leafs uniform within the season-opening win in opposition to Montreal with a clunker in Ottawa, together with a garish giveaway that led to the Sens’ first purpose.
“Pierre was a star for us (on Wednesday) and that’s robust to do on back-to-back nights,” Keefe mentioned. “It’s robust to seek out that degree of consistency within the recreation and that’s a tricky play by Pierre, however there’s a whole lot of recreation left and you’ve got to have the ability to bounce again from it.”
OFFICIAL WORDS
The Leafs didn’t like a number of the calls in opposition to them in Ottawa — captain John Tavares mentioned the hooking minor he was assessed with 42 seconds remaining was “brutal” and we’d agree — however within the greater image, Spezza likes the steps the Leafs have made with their total relationship with on-ice officers.
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“You speak with them, you’re employed with them,” Spezza mentioned. “I feel we’ve matured quite a bit in that space final yr, the place we’ve gained much more respect from the refs.
“You clarify why you suppose it wasn’t a name. Generally you yell at them and it will get heated, however they’re execs too and so long as you may have cooler heads prevail and speak it over after.
“You’re not going to agree with all of the calls. We respect the refs, it’s a tricky job to do, however generally you disagree with calls.
“I feel within the warmth of the battle, we’re all responsible of yelling, and generally the refs yell again and it’s a part of the sport. It’s truly an amazing a part of the ref-player relationship that goes on in hockey. However you then work with them after you speak with them. They’re good guys, attempting to do their job.”
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LOOSE LEAFS
You’d suppose that Keefe received’t wait too lengthy earlier than inserting defenceman Timothy Liljegren into the lineup. Liljegren had a positive camp and deserves that chance … What is going to the Leafs take from the loss in Ottawa into Saturday? “We simply study from it,” Spezza mentioned. “I feel we discovered how they actually blew the zone, pushed us again. We had been slightly bit caught in between early within the recreation. That’s one thing that Keefer does a superb job of and going over. We’ll be very ready for the following recreation in opposition to these guys and looking out ahead to play them.” … Keefe mentioned he thought “we had a whole lot of guys” who didn’t have as a lot gasoline within the tank in Ottawa the second recreation of the back-to-back set. That absolutely received’t turn into a season theme, will it? … Anton Forsberg’s 46 saves in opposition to the Leafs tied for the third-most by a Sens goalie in a house recreation in workforce historical past, however coach D.J. Smith mentioned Friday he would wait till Saturday morning earlier than revealing his starter. Filip Gustavsson backed up for Ottawa, which performs host to the Dallas Stars on Sunday to finish a back-to-back, in opposition to the Leafs.
tkoshan@postmedia.com
