As Maple Leafs training camp ratchets up, one player stood out in Saturday鈥檚 first scrimmage: Nick Robertson.
Robertson scored both goals, one on a breakaway, leading Auston Matthews鈥檚 Team Blue over John Tavares鈥檚 Team White 2-0.
鈥淚t was good to break off the rust before pre-season starts,鈥 Robertson said.聽聽
The Leafs play their first of six exhibition games on Sunday at 3 p.m. in Ottawa.
鈥淚 don’t mind (playing) anywhere between three and four (games),鈥 said defenceman Morgan Rielly. 鈥淭he first one is a little challenging just because of timing, then your second one you start to feel better and better. I’m good with any amount. You just want to be ready for when the puck drops opening night.鈥
The regular season starts Oct. 8 against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.
For NHLers, exhibition games are chance to get up to speed. But for prospects and other players on the bubble, they can feel like make-or-break moments. Each team dresses a mix of both.
鈥淲e’ve got to put guys in positions in these games that we think have an opportunity, and (play) guys that have earned it, too,鈥 said coach Craig Berube. 鈥淰eteran guys, you don’t overuse them in these games, but they also need to get out and play.鈥
Robertson is somewhere in the middle: an NHLer whose spot always feels precarious.
“For me, a game’s a game,” said Robertson. “I’ve got to go out there and execute and play well. I don’t take it lightly.”聽
Tavares on aging
Tavares turned 35 on Saturday. But fitness freak that he is, he had no plans for cake to celebrate.
鈥淛ust more fatherhood and try to relax from the first few days here,鈥 said Tavares. 鈥淢y birthday is always one of the first days of camp, so there’s not too much celebrating or really enjoying yourself. You鈥檙e just trying to get yourself back in the swing of things and trying to recover.鈥
Rielly’s power move
The Leafs haven鈥檛 practised the power play yet, but Rielly said he鈥檚 ready to rejoin the top unit with Matthews, Tavares, William Nylander and Matthew Knies.
鈥淚’m going to try to take a lot of pride and put a lot of effort into making sure I do my job there,鈥 said Rielly. 鈥淭he details will get sorted out and we’ll talk about formations. It’s a role where I’m comfortable.鈥
Rielly was bumped from the top unit last year when the team opted for five forwards.
Injury updates
Forward Max Domi (lower body) is expected to practise Sunday with other players who aren’t going to Ottawa. A few more missed Saturday鈥檚 session: defenceman Simon Benoit (upper body), forward Nicolas Roy (lower body) and goalie Joseph Woll (illness).
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