Maple Leafs-Penguins: Ben Scrivens Shows Leafs' Depth in Goal Despite Loss

The Toronto Maple Leafs prospects played the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects at the rookie tournament in London on Sunday night. 

The game was a low scoring, defensive game with its fair share of both truculence and belligerence. 

The Penguins played a rough game, slamming the Leafs with some questionable hits throughout the game. 

In the middle of the second period, the Leafs' defenseman Cowan was playing the puck on the end boards and was roughly shoved face first into the glass. 

Cowan would end up leaving with a gash on his forehead, and the Penguins' player would leave with a game misconduct. 

Many of the Leafs' players were quick to come to the defense of their teammates.  Michael Liambis dropped his gloves after Dale Mitchell was checked from behind into the boards, challenging the Penguins player after the boarding.

The Maple Leafs had a great many power play opportunities because of this rough play, but like the big team, they had trouble converting with the extra man.

Brayden Irwin showed his age and experience at several times in the game, making several smart plays and scoring the Leafs' opening goal in the first period. 

A burst of strength and speed got him off the boards and by the Penguins defenseman on the rush, then he cut in and wired a beautiful wrist shot into the top right corner.

The Leafs were actually outplayed and outshot most of the game, which likely had to do with the Penguins players greater experience at the pro level. 

Eric Tangradi showed why he is the top forward prospect for the Penguins, showing bursts of dominant play at times on the ice.

What kept the Leafs in the game was the outstanding play of the Hobey Baker finalist Ben Scrivens in net. 

Scrivens showed strong instincts in a few mad scrambles around the net, his strong positioning and quick reflexes stopping a series of shots. 

His impressive lateral movement allowing him to make a huge save on a wraparound attempt then another one on a breakaway. 

Despite being bombarded, Scrivens showed great poise and concentration and shows the great depth that the Leafs have built in net over the last two years.

It was a heartbreaking loss in the end as a misplay in the Leafs' zone allowed the Penguins forward Dustin Jeffreys to slide it by a scrambling Scrivens.

After their strong win against Chicago last night, many of the Leafs top prospects weren't dressed for this game; Brad Ross, Nazem Kadri, and Marcel Mueller were not in the lineup.