POSTGAME: Fancy Marlies lose to Fancy Griffins

Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY SPORTS

With the preseason almost over and a heavy dosage of games left in the final days, both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings put out “B” rosters, consisting of players that will either not make the team, or play non-vital roles. Tomorrow is the big game between the two, but that doesn’t mean that the Leafs didn’t want this victory. They didn’t get it, though, and fell 2-1 in front of their fans in Hamilton.

Toronto fell behind early in the first period when Evgeny Svechnikov opened the scoring with a strong individual effort. Receiving Drew Miller’s chip off the boards, Svechnikov sprint in towards goal and ripped a wrister past an unprepared Jhonas Enroth.

Don’t worry; this wasn’t a repeat of yesterday’s chase away of Frederik Andersen. Enroth was actually quite stellar throughout the night, earning second-star honours.

The Leafs were even able to restore balance for a bit, as Brendan Leipsic tied up the game with a gorgeous snipe from just left of the slot before the fist period ended. Svechnikov struck again a little later, though, taking advantage of a rebound and an unguarded slot area to double dip on Enroth.

Toronto certainly had their chances to tie the game, and put on the pressure late. It didn’t work out, though, and while the effort still topped yesterday’s, it wasn’t the one they wanted. The plus side, though, is that the roster that lost tonight is so greatly different from the one that will play on opening night that it’s not even worth examining this loss too much.

Also, if we’re going to joke about this basically being the almost Marlies, the actual Marlies won their second game of the preseason in overtime tonight, so there’s a bit to brag about here.

Toronto wraps up their preseason tomorrow with a much different roster taking on a much different Red Wings group at the Joe. It’ll be that lineup and that result that will initiate the truest wave of panic. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM tomorrow, and we’ll have all the details you could possibly need a few hours before puck drop. See you soon!

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