William Nylander put the Maple Leafs on the board at 16:29 of the first period before scoring Toronto’s second goal of the night at 2:27 of the third period. Tonight’s game is Nylander’s first multi-goal performance of the season and the sixth multi-goal performance of his career. He has had three multi-point performances over his last four games.
John Tavares scored the third Maple Leafs goal of the game on the power play at 12:41 of the third period before registering the primary assist on Andreas Johnsson’s third period goal. Tavares has four points (2-2-4) over his last three games played.
Andreas Johnsson had the primary assist on Tavares’ third period goal before scoring Toronto’s fourth goal of the night on the power play at 19:18 of the third period. Tonight’s game is Johnsson’s third multi-point performance of the season.
Auston Matthews collected the lone assist on Nylander’s first and third period goals before picking up the secondary assist on Tavares’ third period goal and Johnsson’s third period goal. Tonight’s game is Matthews’ second consecutive multi-assist performance of the season. He has nine points (2-7-9) over his last four games.
The Maple Leafs went 4-for-5 on the penalty kill and 2-for-5 on the power play tonight.
Tyson Barrie was on the ice for a team-high 31 Toronto shot attempts-for at 5-on-5 tonight. He finished the game with a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 64.6 percent (31 for, 17 against).
Cody Ceci and Frederik Gauthier were the lone Maple Leafs to not start a 5-on-5 shift in the offensive zone.
John Tavares won 64 percent (7 won, 4 lost) of his faceoffs when matched up with Chicago centre Jonathan Toews.
UPCOMING GAMES:
Wednesday, November 13, 7:00 p.m. at New York Islanders (Sportsnet, FAN 590)
Friday, November 15, 7:00 p.m. vs. Boston Bruins (TSN4, TSN 1050)
Saturday, November 16, 7:00 p.m. at Pittsburgh Penguins (Sportsnet, TSN 1050)
Tuesday, November 19, 10:00 p.m. at Vegas Golden Knights (TSN4, TSN 1050)
Thursday, November 21, 9:00 p.m. at Arizona Coyotes (Sportsnet Ontario, FAN 590)
The Maple Leafs announced today that forward Mitch Marner underwent an MRI exam today after sustaining an ankle injury in last night’s game against Philadelphia. Marner is expected to be out of the lineup for a minimum of four weeks, at which point he will be reassessed by the Maple Leafs medical staff.
Marner, 22, has registered 18 points (4 goals, 14 assists) in 18 games with the Maple Leafs this season. In 2018-19, the Markham, Ontario native recorded 94 points (26 goals, 68 assists) in 82 regular season games and four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in seven playoff games.
by Santino Torres / Staff Reporter On Oct. 15, at BMO Field in Toronto, the United States men’s soccer team took their first loss in 34 years against Canada in a historic 2-0 result. Both goals came in the second half, including one that occurred in stoppage time. Two years prior, the USMNT was eliminated […]
TORONTO and Seattle Sounders go head-to-head in the 2019 Major League Soccer (MLS) final, the third time in four seasons the two clubs have played each other in the season’s finale. MLS is growing in popularity and media prominence. Although attendances at games seem to have plateaued and are still relatively modest in some cities, […]
Progress continues with new seats at TD Ballpark at Grant Field in Dunedin the only spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays first spring training game at the refurbished stadium is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2020 against the Atlanta Braves. — Text andphoto by Eddie Michels.
GAME #9 – TORONTO RAPTORS (6-2) at LOS ANGELES LAKERS (7-1) SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2019 – 9:30 P.M. (ET) – STAPLES CENTER TV: TSN – RADIO: TSN 1050TORONTO
RAPTORS NOTES
• The Toronto Raptors continue a five game west coast road trip (Nov. 8-16) Sunday night against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. This matches Toronto’s longest road trip of the season. The Raptors will also play five in a row on the road March 1-9. Toronto will not play at home again until Nov. 18 vs. Charlotte. The Raptors play eight of 13 games on the road in the month of November.
• The Raptors have won nine straight games vs. the LA Lakers, including four in a row on the road. It’s Toronto’s second longest current winning streak against one opponent (the Raptors have won 10 in a row vs. Chicago), as well as the Lakers’ longest current losing streak versus any team. Pascal Siakam averaged 16.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.5 rebounds in two games against the Lakers last season.
• Toronto was 11-4 on the road vs. Western Conference opponents last season. The Raptors are the only Eastern Conference team to finish with a +.500 record on the road against the West each of the past four seasons (2015-19). Since the start of the 2015-16 campaign, Toronto is 36-25 (.590) when facing a Western Conference opponent on the road.
• Pascal Siakam recorded a career high-tying 44 points (17-28 FG, 5-10 3PT, 5-5 FT), including 26 in the first half, and 10 rebounds Nov. 8 at New Orleans. Siakam joins Chris Bosh (5X), Vince Carter (2X) and DeMar DeRozan (2X) as the only players in franchise history with multiple games of 40+ points and 10+ rebounds. Siakam also had 44 points and 10 rebounds Feb. 13, 2019 vs. Washington.
• Kyle Lowry (distal phalanx fracture – left thumb) and Serge Ibaka (right ankle sprain) both sustained injuries Nov. 8 at New Orleans. Lowry will be reevaluated in two weeks, while Ibaka is out indefinitely. Ibaka will undergo additional imaging in Los Angeles.
• Toronto ranks first in the NBA in opponent field goal percentage (.406). The Raptors have held their opponent below 40 per cent shooting from the floor three times in the first eight games of the regular season.
• Fred VanVleet finished with 12 points and matched a season high with 11 assists Friday night against the Pelicans. VanVleet has now recorded at least five assists in a career-long eight straight games; averaging a team-high 7.4 assists during this stretch.
• OG Anunoby is one of only five players in the NBA – along with Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andre Drummond and Jonathan Isaac – with at least 11 steals and 11 blocks this season. Anunoby has already set single game career highs in both categories, with five steals Oct. 28 vs. Orlando and four blocks Oct. 26 at Chicago.
• The Raptors made a season-high 19 threes Friday at New Orleans. The Raptors shot .442 (19-43) from beyond the arc against the Pelicans. The Raptors have now made at least 10 threes in every game this season. Kyle Lowry leads the team in three-point field goals with 29, while Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet have made 19 apiece.
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – OG ANUNOBY #3 • Recorded a season-high 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes Nov. 8 at New Orleans. • Has scored 10 or more points in five of the last six games; averaging 15.0 points during this stretch. • Shooting .545 (18-33) from three-point range; has made multiple threes in five of the first eight games.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43 • Matched a career high with 44 points Nov. 8 at New Orleans; added 10 rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes. • Has posted four games of 30+ points; had five 30-point performances last season. • Leads the team with three double-doubles. C – MARC GASOL #33 • Finished with five points, seven rebounds and one assist in 29 minutes Nov. 8 at New Orleans. • Needs 24 points to reach 12,000 career points in the NBA. • Has collected 10+ rebounds three times (Last: 12 – Nov. 2 at Milwaukee).
G – NORMAN POWELL #24 • Led the reserves with 18 points and grabbed four rebounds in 29 minutes Nov. 8 at New Orleans. • Has scored in double figures twice, including a season-high 19 points Oct. 30 vs. Detroit. • Averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 27.1 minutes in three games as a starter last season.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23 • Totaled 12 points, five rebounds and a season high-tying 11 assists in 36 minutes Nov. 8 at New Orleans. • Has totaled 34 assists, compared to just six turnovers, over the last four games (Oct. 30 – Nov. 8). • Tied for seventh in the NBA with a .941 (32-34) free throw percentage.
INJURY REPORT
Serge Ibaka (Right ankle sprain) – Out Kyle Lowry (Distal phalanx fracture – left thumb) – Out Patrick McCaw (Left knee surgery) – Out
LAKERS NOTES
SEASON & SERIES NOTES; CONNECTIONS 2019-20 Season Notes:
This is the first of two regular season matchups between the Lakers and Raptors this season This will be the 46th meeting between the two teams, with the Lakers leading the all-time series 28-17 … The Lakers have lost each of the last nine matchups against the Raptors … Los Angeles is 12-7 all-time against Toronto at STAPLES Center … When visiting Toronto, the Lakers are 13-10 all-time against the Raptors … In the two teams’ 20th meeting on Jan. 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant had a career night, scoring a team-record 81 points – including 55 points in the second half – to bring the Lakers back from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Raptors, 122-104, at STAPLES Center … Bryant’s point total is still the second-best single-game performance in NBA history Connections: Lakers G Danny Green played for the Raptors during the 2018-19 season, helping the team win the NBA Championship … Lakers Assistant Coach Phil Handy was an assistant for the Raptors during the 2018-19 season … Raptors C Marc Gasol was drafted by the Lakers with the 48th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft … Gasol was teammates with Lakers G Troy Daniels during the 2016-17 season with the Memphis Grizzlies … Lakers Assistant Coach Lionel Hollins coached Gasol from 2009-13 with the Grizzlies … Hollins coached Raptors G Kyle Lowry during the 2006-07 season with the Grizzlies … Hollins and Raptors Assistant Coach Adrian Griffin coached together during the 2008-09 season with the Milwaukee Bucks … Hollins coached Raptors F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during the 2015-16 season with the Brooklyn Nets … Hollis-Jefferson and Lakers F Jared Dudley were teammates during the 2018-19 season with the Nets … Raptors Assistant Coach NateBjorkgren coached Dudley during the 2016-17 season with the Phoenix Suns … Raptors Assistant Coach Patrick Mutombo coached Lakers C JaVale McGee from part of the 2011-12 season through part of the 2014-15 season with the Denver Nuggets … McGee was teammates with Raptors G Patrick McCaw (2016-18) and Raptors F Chris Boucher (2017-18) with the Golden State Warriors … Lakers G Quinn Cook was also teammates with Boucher and McCaw during the 2017-18 season with the Warriors … Lakers Head Coach Frank Vogel coached Raptors F Serge Ibaka for part of the 2016-17 season with the Orlando Magic … Raptors F Stanley Johnson was teammates with Lakers G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (2015-17) and Lakers G Avery Bradley (part of the 2017-18 season) with the Detroit Pistons … Johnson was teammates with Lakers F Anthony Davis for part of the 2018-19 season with the New Orleans Pelicans … Raptors Assistant Coach Jim Sann coached Lakers Assistant Coach Jason Kidd from 2005 through part of the 2007-08 season with the New Jersey Nets and the two coached together during the 2013-14 season with the Nets … Sann and Hollins coached together with the Nets from 2014-16 … Raptors G Matt Thomas won the 2017 NBA Las Vegas Summer League Championship with the Lakers … Raptors F Norman Powell played collegiately at UCLA from 2011-15 … Raptors Assistant Coach Alex McKechnie was the Athletic Performance Coordinator for the Lakers from 2003-11.
LAST GAME’S STARTERS
LeBron James #23 F • 6-8 • 250 St. Vincent-St. Mary : LAST GAME: 25 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in 36 minutes vs. Miami • Became the first-ever player with at least 39 points, 12 rebounds, 16 assists & 4 steals on 11/1 at DAL • Averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 55 games last season • Three-time NBA Champion and NBA Finals MVP, 15-time NBA All-Star and All-NBA honoree Anthony Davis #3 F • 6-10 • 253 Kentucky: LAST GAME: 26 points, 8 rebounds, a season-high 7 assists and 3 blocks in 35 minutes vs. Miami • Named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week on Nov. 4, his sixth career selection • Set a franchise record with 26 made free throws (26-27 FT) on 10/29 vs. Memphis • Six-time NBA All-Star, three-time All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Team honoree
JaVale McGee #7 C • 7-0 • 270 Nevada: LAST GAME: 9 points and 10 rebounds in 16 minutes vs. Miami • Averaged 12.0 points (.632 FG%), 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 75 games last season • Became third Lakers player to shoot over 60% on 600+ attempts in ’18-19 (Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain) • Finished last season ranking fifth in the NBA with 2.0 blocks per game Danny Green #14 G • 6-6 • 215 North Carolina: LAST GAME: 4 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in 23 minutes vs. Miami • Started 80 regular season games in ’18-19, averaging 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists • Ranked second in the NBA last season in three-point percentage (.455) • Two-time NBA Champion (2014, 2019)
Avery Bradley #11 G • 6-2 • 180 Texas: LAST GAME: 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 25 minutes vs. Miami • Played 63 games for LAC and Memphis last season, notching 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists • Has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team on two occasions (2012-13, 2015-16) • Owns career averages of 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steal in 28.6 minutes
UNITED CENTER (CHICAGO, IL) ▪ TV: SPORTSNET ▪ RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN
MAPLE LEAFS HISTORY versus CHICAGO
ALL-TIME RECORD:
289-263-96-3 (651 Games)
ALL-TIME ON THE ROAD:
122-162-42-1 (327 Games)
2018-19:
1-1-0
LAST FIVE:
3-1-1
LAST TEN:
4-4-2
MAPLE LEAFS CAREER LEADERS versus CHICAGO
GAMES PLAYED:
Tyson Barrie (29), Jason Spezza (24), Jake Muzzin (19)
GOALS:
John Tavares (7), Tyson Barrie (7), Auston Matthews (5)
ASSISTS:
Tyson Barrie (19), Jason Spezza (14), John Tavares (7)
POINTS:
Tyson Barrie (26), Jason Spezza (18), John Tavares (14)
PENALTY MINUTES:
John Tavares (18), Tyson Barrie (12), Martin Marincin (8)
MAPLE LEAFS – BLACKHAWKS TEAM STATS
TORONTO
CHICAGO
GOALS FOR (Rank):
59 (5th)
40 (t-28th)
GOALS AGAINST (Rank):
55 (t-22nd)
47 (t-10th)
POWER PLAY [%] (Rank):
10/61 [16.4%] (t-21st)
7/50 [14.0%] (25th)
PENALTY KILL [%] (Rank):
50/65 [76.9%] (24th)
43/53 [81.1%] (t-17th)
SHOTS (Rank):
582 (5th)
484 (26th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPTS FOR (Rank):
757 (2nd)
579 (27th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % (Rank):
51.7% (8th)
45.9% (29th)
FACEOFF % (Rank):
53.1% (3rd)
48.3% (25th)
MAPLE LEAFS – BLACKHAWKS NOTES
FIRST MATCHUP BETWEEN CLUBS:
Nov. 17, 1926 at Chicago (Blackhawks 4, Maple Leafs 1)
ALL-TIME RECORD:
289-263-96-3 (651 Games)
ALL-TIME RECORD AT HOME:
167-101-54-2 (324 Games)
ALL-TIME RECORD ON THE ROAD:
122-162-42-1 (327 Games)
LAST WIN VS. OPPONENT ON THE ROAD:
October 7, 2018 (Toronto 7, Chicago 6 OT)
MAPLE LEAFS MILESTONES vs. BLACKHAWKS
Tyson Barrie
First career NHL game (Feb. 7, 2012 (COL) vs. CHI) 200th career NHL point (Oct. 28, 2017 (COL) vs. CHI)
Justin Holl
Selected by Chicago in the second round (54th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
Michael Hutchinson
First career NHL shutout (Nov. 2, 2014 (WPG) at CHI)
Auston Matthews
200th career NHL game (Mar. 13, 2019 vs. CHI)
Jake Muzzin
400th career NHL game (Dec. 3, 2017 (LAK) at CHI)
William Nylander
100th career NHL game (Mar. 13, 2019 vs. CHI)
Morgan Rielly
300th career NHL game (Mar. 18, 2017 vs. CHI)
MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS
CATEGORY
LEADER
GOALS
13 (Matthews)
ASSISTS
14 (Marner)
POINTS
21 (Matthews)
POWER PLAY POINTS
7 (Marner)
SHORTHANDED POINTS
2 (Kapanen)
PIMs
16 (Kerfoot)
SHOTS
67 (Matthews)
FACEOFF WIN%
58.4% (Shore)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %
56.2% (Nylander)
BLOCKED SHOTS
36 (Ceci)
TAKEAWAYS
24 (Marner)
HITS
37 (Moore)
TOI PER GAME
25:33 (Rielly)
PP TOI PER GAME
3:30 (Matthews)
SH TOI PER GAME
3:48 (Ceci)
MAPLE LEAFS NOTABLES
– Frederik Andersen is 3-0-0 with a 1.95 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage on the road this season. He ranks sixth among NHL goaltenders in saves made (401). His .925 save percentage at even-strength is tied for third highest among goaltenders who have faced at least 300 shots at even-strength.
– Tyson Barrie has 26 points (7 goals, 19 assists) in 29 career games against the Blackhawks, which his highest point total against a single opponent.
– Cody Ceci has a pair of assists in two games against Central Division opponents. He ranks fifth among NHLers in shorthanded time on ice (68:20).
– Michael Hutchinson is 4-1-1 in six career games against the Blackhawks with a 1.33 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage.
– Andreas Johnsson has been on the ice for 25 Maple Leafs goals-for, which places him in a tie for fourth among NHL left wingers in on-ice goals-for.
– Kasperi Kapanen played 30 shifts in a game for the second time in his career on November 9 vs. Philadelphia, while establishing a new career-high for time on ice (21:00).
– Alex Kerfoot had five points (1-4-5) in five games against the Blackhawks last season and has nine points (3-6-9) in nine career games against Chicago.
– Auston Matthews is tied for third in the NHL in goals (13) and is tied for second in the NHL in even-strength goals (9). He has 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in six career games against the Blackhawks, which is tied for the second-most points scored by an Eastern Conference skater against Chicago since 2016-17.
– Ilya Mikheyev leads all NHL skaters in shots on goal while shorthanded (10). He leads NHL rookies in shorthanded ice time (44:43).
– Trevor Moore is the only NHL rookie to average at least 1:00 per game in power play ice time (1:27) and 1:00 per game in shorthanded ice time (2:03).
– Jake Muzzin is tied for 19th among NHL skaters in shifts per game (28.4). He is the only Maple Leafs defenceman and one of five NHL defencemen to have registered at least 35 hits (35) and 35 shots on goal (35).
– William Nylander has six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in five career games against Chicago. He ranks fourth among Maple Leafs in faceoff win percentage (55.5% – 65 won, 52 lost). He has a pair of multi-point performances over his last three games.
– Morgan Rielly is tied for fourth among NHL defencemen in points (3-13-16). He is tied for fifth among NHL defencemen in even-strength points (3-8-11). His 25:33 TOI per game average is the fourth-highest mark in the NHL, while he ranks fourth in shifts per game (29.6).
– John Tavares has won 60.1 percent (28 won, 18 lost) of his faceoffs when the Maple Leafs are on the power play and 52.9 percent (73 won, 65 lost) of his faceoffs at even-strength. He had four goals in two games against Chicago in 2018-19.
CURRENT POINT STREAKS
Auston Matthews
Has points (2-3-5) in three consecutive games.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Michael Hutchinson
Four wins from 50 career NHL wins.
John Tavares
Five assists from 400 career NHL assists.
RECENT MILESTONES
Tyson Barrie
500th career NHL game (Nov. 5 vs. LAK)
Andreas Johnsson
100th career NHL game (Nov. 9 vs. PHI)
Auston Matthews
100th career NHL assist (Nov. 5 vs. LAK)
INJURY REPORT
Zach Hyman (Knee)
On injured reserve.
Mitch Marner (Ankle)
Left Toronto’s game on Nov. 9 vs. PHI and did not return.
Man Games Lost: 38
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
November 8
Loaned forward Nic Petan to the Toronto Marlies (AHL)
November 5
Recalled forward Nic Petan from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
Toronto: P. Aberg (8) PP (T. MacMaster, P. Engvall), G. Wilson (4) (K. Agostino, N. Petan), P. Engvall (3) (R. Sandin, J. Lindgren), K. Agostino (5) PP (N. Petan, R. Sandin), P. Engvall (4) EN, SH (Unassisted) Goaltender: K. Kaskisuo (31/33)
Grand Rapids: F. Zadina (5) PP (M. Rasmussen, M. Puempel), D. Turgeon (3) (J. Lukosevicius, C. Pearson) Goaltender: F. Larsson (18/22)
ON THE SCORESHEET
Pontus Aberg opened the scoring at 16:34 of the first period on the power play. This is his second power play goal of the season and his third first-goal of the game. Aberg has 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists) in 13 games this season.
Garrett Wilson scored Toronto’s second goal of the game at 4:49 of the second period. Wilson has six points (4 goals, 2 assists) through 11 games this season.
Pierre Engvall scored the game-winning goal at 18:39 of the second period and added an empty net goal shorthanded at 17:08 of the third period. He also picked up the secondary assist on Aberg’s first period goal. These were his 50th and 51st career AHL points. Engvall has 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) through 13 games. This was his second three-point night of the season.
Kenny Agostino scored Toronto’s fourth goal at 16:34 of the third period and earlier added the primary assist on Wilson’s second period goal. This is Agostino’s third multi-point game of the season. Agostino has 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) through 11 games.
Tanner MacMaster recorded the primary assist on Aberg’s first period power play goal. MacMaster has six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 12 games this season
Nic Petan collected the secondary assist on Wilson’s second period goal. Petan has points (2-4-6) in three consecutive games with the Marlies.
Rasmus Sandin recorded the primary assist on Engvall’s second period goal. Sandin has points (1-3-4) in three consecutive games with the Marlies.
Jesper Lindgren registered the secondary assist on Engvall’s second period goal.
Kasimir Kaskisuo stopped 29 of 31 shots he faced. Kaskisuo is now 6-1-1-0 on the season with a .927 Save Percentage and a 2.13 Goals Against Average.
OF NOTE…
Toronto was 5-for-6 on the penalty kill and was 2-for-5 on the power play. This is the fourth time Toronto’s power play has scored two goals in a game this season.
Grand Rapids had a 33-23 edge in shots in all situations. Pierre Engvall, Nic Petan and Garrett Wilson led the Marlies with three shots on goal.
The Marlies are 3-2-0-0 against Central Division opponents and are 1-1-0-0 against the Griffins. This is the second of four games this season against Grand Rapids.
REGULAR SEASON LEADERS
Goals: P. Aberg (8)
Assists: J. Bracco, P. Engvall (8)
Points: P. Aberg (13)
PPG: E. Korshkov (4)
Shots: P. Aberg (40)
+/-: B. Harpur (+11)
PIMS: G. Wilson (17)
RECORD WHEN…
Toronto is 7-2-1-1 when scoring first.
The Marlies are 5-1-1-1 when leading after the first period and 3-1-1-1 when tied after the second period.
Toronto is 3-2-1-1 when outshot by their opponent.
The Marlies are 4-0-1-1 in Saturday games and are 2-2-0-1 in November.
CURRENT POINT STREAKS
Nic Petan has points (2-4-6) in three consecutive games.
Rasmus Sandin has points (1-3-4) in three consecutive games.
MARLIES UPDATES.
Darren Archibald (forearm strain) did not play in tonight’s game against Grand Rapids.
Adam Brooks (concussion) did not play in tonight’s game against Grand Rapids.
Timothy Liljegren left tonight’s game against Grand Rapids midway through the first period and did not return.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
November 8: Returned Nic Petan on loan from Toronto (NHL).
November 5: Recalled forward Aaron Luchuk from to Newfoundland (ECHL).
November 5: Recalled forward Giorgio Estephan from loan to Newfoundland (ECHL).
November 5: Recalled forward Nic Petan from loan to Toronto (NHL).
November 3: Returned forward Zach O’Brien on loan to Newfoundland (ECHL).
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH SHELDON KEEFE
On tonight’s game: I really liked the effort, for sure. The system and process and just the intelligence that we’ve played with could improve and that will be the challenge for us this week and we’ve got a long period of time to sort some things out but I really liked the effort today. It was such a crazy game, so many special teams then the penalty kill, we were asking so much of them against such a potent power play that had burned us the night before. We just thought that our guys had really dug in and competed hard. Just watching guys come back to the bench, they’re exhausted. It’s the end of a long week here on the road so certainly happy with the effort and because of that effort, I thought we earned the two points.
On the team’s power play (2 goals): Special teams, such a factor in the game yesterday and we suspected they’d be again today so to get both units on the board and at big times for us as well to open the scoring of course and then to extend the lead in the third. That’s what you want to score goals at important times. It can and will continue to improve. Again, a long week of practice for us. There’s a long list of things that we need to get better at and that will be one of them.
On Timothy Liljegren’s injury: At this stage, it’s not looking quite as serious as it looked in terms of not being able to put any weight on it. He seems like he’s able to put some weight on it now but he was obviously in no shape to come back into the game. We’ll get back to Toronto and get it looked at. Unfortunate hit, hate to see those kinds of hits. There was some knee-on-knee contact and there was some contact with his head as well. It was kind of a double whammy in terms of the kinds of things you don’t ever want to see. Unfortunate of course, that it doesn’t get called. The league will take a look at it and do what they need to do but we’re more concerned about Lily of course and make sure that we can get him healthy as soon as possible.
NEXT GAME:
November 16 vs Texas – 4:00 p.m. ET November 17 vs Texas – 4:00 p.m. ET November 20 vs Laval – 7:00 p.m. ET November 23 vs Manitoba – 4:00 p.m. ET November 24 vs Manitoba – 4:00 p.m. ET
The view from left field 