Saturday night will bring the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators together for the first time this season. This early meeting should set the pace between the two teams. Ottawa and Toronto synonymous with the Battle of Ontario, the 401 Battle, Leafsnation vs SensArmy. Fans of both teams that live in Ontario love this match up. The teams will work on getting two solid points in the Atlantic Division and the fans get all the bragging rights if it is their Nation or Army prevails. Twitter browsers beware the #Leafs vs #Sens timelines could get ugly and not for the faint of heart!
The Toronto Maple Leafs Young Defensive Addition
Veteran defenceman Mark Fraser placed on long-term injury reserved list Friday with what looks like a knee injury. Fraser will be lost for a minimum of 10 games after he suffered the injury in the Thursday night match up against the Philadelphia Flyers. Enter Morgan Reilly who gets his NHL début on Hockey Night in Canada vs the rival Ottawa Senators.
Morgan Reilly and Jake Gardiner played together during Friday practice, however don’t expect them paired together during the game Saturday night. Carlyle didn’t seem to give any indication to who Rielly would be partnered with but both on the 2nd unit power play might be a great match up. Toronto Maple Leafs fans can`t wait to see the young defencemans coming out party. Expectations are high, some might say right up there with what fans witnessed from Luke Schenn. All eyes will be on Morgan Rielly this weekend including his parents he has flying in from British Columbia.
Toronto Maple Leafs add Muscle
Jamie Devane received the call up from the Leafs’ AHL team and may see action on Saturday against Ottawa. Devane has some muscle and is not afraid to drop the gloves. 236 penalty minutes racked up during his two years with the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL, Devane is not afraid to mix it up. Ashton Carter may sit in the press box nursing a broken nose he suffered in a fight against Montreal Canadien Jarred Tinordi.
Maple Leafs Goaltending – Who will get the start?
The debate begins now as who will get the start on Saturday night vs the Ottawa Senators. Jonathon Bernier or James Reimer? Twitter is buzzing with #Leafsnation discussing the benefits of one or the other. Toronto Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle however is the only person with a real say in the matter has been silent leading out of Friday practice.
The Ottawa Senators managed an average of 40 plus shots a game last season against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is the kind of pressure Reimer can handle. James Reimer in my opinion has the starter job and it is his to lose. Time will tell.
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