Marner on Bertuzzi with Leafs’ top line: ‘We’re going to get better’

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Get those kinks worked out.

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Mitch Marner didn’t score against the Ottawa Senators on Monday night until mere seconds remained in regulation, but the Maple Leafs’ top winger came away with some satisfaction following a 4-3 Toronto overtime loss at Scotiabank Arena. 

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The game marked the first look for Marner and Auston Matthews with new winger Tyler Bertuzzi. 

“Bert has opened up a lot the last couple of weeks,” Marner said. “We’re going to keep getting better and better. First real game together, just trying to figure things out. Couple plays we were in the right spots, just didn’t connect on them.”

Matthews, who had four of the Leafs’ six takeaways, fit in nicely on the penalty kill with Marner. Matthews played 2 1/2 minutes while the Leafs were shorthanded and was not on the ice for Ottawa’s only power-play goal. There’s no doubt that Matthews has the brain to make an impact on the kill, and another minute or two in total ice time per game shouldn’t be a negative for the club’s No. 1 centre.  

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GAME ON

What’s not to like about Easton Cowan’s attitude? This was the Leafs’ 2023 first-round pick in the morning, hours before making his pre-season debut: “I want to learn as much as I can here to bring it back to London and show the young kids what it takes to make that next jump. It’s a process to make the NHL. You’re not going to play right away.” … It was nothing new from coach Sheldon Keefe, considering his feel for the moment, but it was a nice touch to have Cowan take the opening faceoff. With family and friends in the crowd, Cowan beat Ridly Greig to give the Leafs instant possession. Cowan played with spirit all night, not only scoring a goal but creating chances as well … The Leafs need physicality from the defence corps, so it had to be encouraging for the staff to watch as Jake McCabe led the club with seven hits. There were some good moments for McCabe and new partner John Klingberg in keeping control of the puck along the Ottawa blue line. Now, to do something about Klingberg’s decision-making in the defensive zone … Klingberg, who led Toronto with eight shots on goal, on his first game with the Leafs: “Little scrambly, like it always is in the first pre-season game of the year. Overall, pretty good. Some situations where you want to handle the puck a little bit better.” … Nerves appeared to be evident for young Leafs defenceman Topi Niemela, whose feeble puck flip from deep in the defensive zone was intercepted by the Senators, leading to the 1-0 goal by Roby Jarventie at 1:16 of the first period … Nick Robertson’s first game since last December, when he suffered a shoulder injury against the Los Angeles Kings and later had surgery in January, came off like you thought it would: Marked by hustle and some buzzing around the opposition’s net. Six of Robertson’s seven attempts found the net … Matthews was in mid-season form when he lifted the stick of Josh Currie and stole the puck, denying the Sens forward a shot in the second period. Matthews did something similar in the third, relieving Mathieu Joseph of the puck to send the Leafs the other way … Ottawa didn’t send its best forwards to Toronto, but it’s still worth noting that Matthews was 21-5 in the faceoff circle. In total, the Leafs were 72% on the dots (39-for-54) … Joseph Woll stared in the Leafs net and made 19 saves on 22 shots. Martin Jones came on in relief midway through the second period and stopped 16 shots, with only Jakob Chychrun beating him on a rebound in overtime.

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LOOSE LEAFS

Keefe, as you would expect, was glad to see William Nylander and Max Domi mesh in their first game together on Sunday in Ottawa. “The thing I liked the most about Willie’s game was he and Max really connected a lot, created a lot of our best offence,” Keefe said. “Max showed his playmaking ability. I was really intrigued to see that. Willie is one of our most dangerous people on the rush, and it’s a real strength of Max’s game, to be able to create and make plays under pressure, find people, see the ice and I thought he put that on display.” Keefe also was satisfied with Nylander’s first pre-season turn at centre … Leafs captain John Tavares will make his pre-season debut on Wednesday in St. Thomas against the Buffalo Sabres, Keefe said. Tavares was on the ice following the morning skate for individual drills and will be a full participant in practice on Tuesday. Tavares isn’t hurt. Keefe said this schedule for Tavares had been planned … Morgan Rielly’s strong post-season apparently didn’t give oddsmakers the confidence that he can pick up where he left off once the regular season starts. BetOnline has Rielly at 100/1 to win the Norris Trophy, lumping him in a group that includes Aaron Ekblad, Drew Doughty and Kris Letang. Cale Makar has the best odds at 5/2, followed by Adam Fox at 7/1.

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