Game Summary: Pre-Season Game 4 - Sens beat Leaves 3-2

Tuesday, September 24, 2013
With a game scheduled in Ottawa against Montreal on Wednesday night, the Senators sent a B-squad of sorts to Toronto for Tuesday night's exhibition game against the Maple Leaves. The game was only broadcast on Leafs TV, so many of us were forced to watch the game while donning our nicest pirate caps.

1st Period

  • In the pre-game Harry Neale refers to the MacArthur-Turris-Player X line as, "either the first or second line...whatever you want to call it," which drew great ire from Sens fans, given that the first line is obviously Pageau-Pageau-Pageau.
  • The refs were wearing Go Pro head-mounted cameras for this game. Jim O'Brien was also believed to be sporting a head-mounted contraption before we realized it was just his face.
  • The first period was a series of terrible turnovers by Leafs defencemen followed by great saves by James Reimer, causing Jonathan Bernier to punch a Sens fan in an attempt to stay relevant.
  • Kyle Turris was one of the lucky Senators to earn himself a breakaway. His shot went "bar-up" which is significantly less cool in hockey circles than the alternative.
  • Just a reminder that Jake Gardiner is the Leafs' best up-and-coming defensive prospect (age 23). Unrelated reminder: Erik Karlsson (age 23) has a Norris trophy.
  • Best Line: MacArthur-Turris-Stone.

2nd Period

  • To everyone's surprise, defensive stalwart Joseph Corvo and his defensive partner Michael Sdao allow a goal to James Van Riemsdyk, putting the Leafs up 1-0.
  • All game long, but especially during the second period, the Leafs were handing out 2 on 1's like they were pre-season suspensions.
  • Da Costa surrenders his second or third chance of the night. He waves the white flag after being stopped by Reimer on a clean breakaway (the joke is that he's French).
  • Zack Smith scores five hole on Reimer, finally realizing that goals in the bottom half of the net count too.
  • Standout: The Leafs D-corps made Zack Smith look like Sidney Crosby all night, but especially in the second period, prompting @Wham_City to ask, "can a Zack Smith Dempster's ad be far behind?"

3rd Period

  • Goalie expert Greg Millen thinks there's a great future ahead for Senators goaltending prospect "Robert Lehner".
  • Neil levels Kulemin so hard that he starts seeing things, namely his linemate MacArthur in a Sens jersey
  • O'Brien scores off his skate after a brilliant Wiercioch slap pass to Robinson. Leafs announcer Joe Bowen is outraged by the apparent kicking motion 
  • Seconds later, a Mark Stone shot redirects right onto the stick of Colin Greening, proving sometimes it's easy being green...ing.
  • After a bad pinch by Ceci, Dion Phaneuf finishes off a nice 2 on 1.
  • Despite the goal, the Senators managed to hold off a flurry of Leafs chances in the final minute.
  • Standout: Robin Lehner fought through a lot of mess in the final minute to keep the puck out, while maintaining constant eye contact with Craig Anderson on the bench.

Wrap-Up

For the second game in a row, the Senators dominated the Leafs but put their 2012-2013 scoring prowess on display. The Sens forward corps caused dozens of turnovers all night, although give lots of credit to the Leafs: they helped.
  • Final score: 3-2 Sens.
  • Mullet's Valuable Player: Patrick Wiercioch was making Wade Redden caliber "great first passes" all night long. There were moments when you would have sworn Erik Karlsson was in the lineup, if it weren't for Marc Methot assuring us Karlsson was still finishing his dessert: Sick gains bro. Speaking of gains, Patty Weirdcock used his size much more effectively than I remember in the past. I don't foresee a sophomore slump in his future this season.
  • Bonk's Bums: Cody Ceci was impatient with the puck on a few occasions and made a few bad pinches. It's clear he's going to spend some time developing in the AHL before making the jump, although given the average Sens team goes through about 10 defencemen per season, it seems like he should get at least 9 games.
  • Best broadcast moment:
    • Greg Millen: "Clarkson's had a few rough shifts out there."
    • Harry Neale: "Well he'll have lots of time to recover."

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