Toronto Maple Leafs Ottawa Senators: Round 2—Buds Bounce Back, Still Preseason

After last night's 5-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Leafs prepared for Round 2 with a host of different faces for both teams.

The No. 1 line that is expected to take the ice in the regular season consisting of Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak, and Nikolai Kulemin, who were kept together during what few practices there have been in a short training camp so far, started the game.

By the end of the first period both Kulemin and Kessel had goals and Luca Caputi the hometown hopeful, picked up from Pittsburgh last year, buried one as well, all on the power play.

Jesse Blacker the young defenseman stood out on the power play in the first as well with two assists and continued to impress with his poise and offensive-mindedness along with hockey intelligence, which he showed throughout the game.

One of the commentators said that he thought that Brian Burke wanted a rodeo tonight and it looked as though he was going to get one.

Defenseman Mike Komisarek dumped Francais Lassard into the box between the benches where hockey analyst (if you can call him that) Pierre McGuire stood, he looked like a guy watching a Bull fight and enjoying it while saying to his buddies I could do that... until the Bull ends up right beside him… the bodies continued to fly.

Jay Rosehill dropped the gloves for the second night in a row, previously it was with Zack Smith, and this game his dance partner would be David Hale.

Komisarek gave a first intermission interview, during which he said, when asked about his shoulder, "it’s fine," and he looks for the team to get off to a better start as they did in the first period (more so referring to the regular season) and that the team is going to be focused on the little details which hurt them last year.

Also during the intermission Darren Dreger mentioned, while talking about the Leafs forwards and how they need more legit top-six forwards beside Kessel, that Kaberle, of course, and perhaps Luke Schenn, could draw one of those players coveted by the Leafs brass.

Caputi added an assist and continued his bid for a spot on the team in the second after picking up a loose puck near the blue line and taking it down low, then finding Mikhail Grabovski in front of the possible starting goalie for the Sens, Brian Elliot, to make it 4-1 Leafs.

For more on Caputi: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/452062-toronto-maple-leafsluca-caputihome-town-kid-ready-for-a-break-out-season.

James Reimer was solid between the pipes for Toronto for two periods, though he wasn’t tested as much as Jonas Gustavsson and Jussi Rynnas were the night previous until the final minute, and he stood strong, shutting the door on some glorious chances for the Sens.

GM Brian Burke spoke during the second intermission, and said, when asked about what he likes most about his team, "January 31" meaning the day they picked up Dion Phaneuf and J.S. Giguere.

When asked about Nazem Kadri, Burke said, "I like my guys to spend some time in the minors but if he (Ron Wilson) wants him he’s goona get him."

Goalie Ben Scrivens from Cornell University, another US college player Burke has brought into the fold, started the third between the pipes for the Toronto. He caught a break half way through the period, as a shot from the point found the iron, but he sure didn’t look out of place and didn’t allow a goal on some really good chances by the Senators.

Danny Richmond and Zach Smith dropped the gloves and got acquainted as the feisty Leafs continued to play the type of hockey that Burke wants to see.

After a bit of a shaky start for Luke Schenn in the first, who everyone has been waiting for to develop, he settled down and made some savvy smart plays with the puck and took the body, showing signs that he may have made that next step and is catching on to what is expected of him.

The top line of Kessel, Bozak and Kulemin continued all game to get chances and showed a little of what Leafs Nation can expect this year from their top line. Bozak really showed some of qualities that it takes to fill those first line centre shoes with some great passes and good heads up play making.

With all the raucous that Colton Orr and Jay Rosehill have caused during this game just add the name Mike Brown and you have a line to be truly feared.

Komisarek dropped the gloves with Cody Bass after the final whistle to just put an explanation mark on the night!

Leafs win 4-1 and take their preseason record to one win and one loss, it is still preseason but…

After putting last nights game behind them and coming out with a much more spirited effort in this game though the mix of faces have changed somewhat, the message is clear… this Toronto Maple Leafs team is not going to be a fun team to play against, for anyone.