Nick Robertson shines at both ends as Anthony Stolarz and Leafs blank Red Wings
Robertson wasn't the only Leaf to catch coach Berube's attention
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If Craig Berube didn’t know Nick Robertson before this training camp, he’s now well acquainted with the winger who was making headlines for all the wrong reasons in summer.
Both goals in Thursday’s shutout in Detroit, part of a noteworthy five straight in Toronto’s exhibition season, and the requisite work on defence Berube asked of him puts Robertson in the driver’s seat for the Maple Leafs’ opening night roster. After many doubted the disgruntled winger would be in Toronto after his trade request, he agreed to a one-year deal and hasn’t looked back.
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Nick Robertson shines at both ends as Anthony Stolarz and Leafs blank Red Wings Back to video
“He’s been great, killing penalties, producing offensively,” Berube told media in Detroit. “He’s using his feet and using his skill really well.”
Robertson set the table for his insurance marker on a strong backcheck. He credited that detail of his game to the one thing he could control — hard training in summer that’s paying off with goals to feed his confidence,
“I’m just going out there using my strength, which is being a shooter,” Robertson said. “(But) to be a contributing player, you have to be good in both areas and that’s what I’m trying to concentrate on.”
Robertson wasn’t the only Leaf to catch coach Berube’s attention in a road test of aspiring Leafs against a near-full Red Wings’ lineup. Anthony Stolarz made 30 saves, a near perfect mark through his first 60-minute effort and two half games as he challenges Joseph Woll for the opening night assignment Wednesday in Montreal. Woll should play Saturday, though he appeared to have a lower body issue as practice ended Thursday in Toronto.
“Nice to get a full one in and a higher (shot) volume game,” Stolarz said. “It gets you going for regular season. It’s what you want as a hockey player, to be on the big stage. I have that opportunity here and the rest is up to me.
“Woller is a great goalie, (Matt) Murray, too and we’re going to push each other throughout the year. That’s what’s good about the tandems, two guys or three trying to make the team better.”
The Leafs have a record of 3-1-1 in pre-season action with one to go Saturday versus the Wings at Scotiabank Arena. Final NHL rosters are to be filed by 5 p.m. EST Monday.
Those Leafs on the bubble couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity on Thursday against a seasoned Detroit side. But Toronto shut down the Wings’ power play four times to continue a 20-for-20 exhibition record in an area of special teams’ concern last season.
The Leafs responded with an extra-man goal of their own. Robertson on a give-and-go with Easton Cowan, himself trying to earn a big-league job. The pass gave Robertson a clear lane to snap it past Cam Talbot. After his nice defensive play in the third period, Robertson tapped in a Max Pacioretty pass.
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As Berube indicated, Robertson was in on duty as he pushes for at least a taxi squad job on a crowded Leaf depth chart. Pacioretty, trying to find his niche as the club’s elder statesman, was also on the first power play unit.
Left winger Steven Lorentz was given a more elevated role Thursday than he can expect as a projected fourth liner with David Kampf and Ryan Reaves. He was with goalie and fellow Panthers’ Stanley Cup winner Stolarz, against their former Florida teammate Vladimir Tarasenko. All three shared some yuks before and during the game, when Stolarz flashed leather on Tarasenko in the slot, the first of two impressive saves on the same player.
Though no one has really played themselves out of a job with the Leafs, defenceman Marshall Rifai is showing signs he could be on the roster next week, as he battles the likes of Timothy Liljegren, whom he was paired with Thursday, and Conor Timmins.
The undrafted Rifai, a key to extending Toronto’s pre-season penalty killing mark, shone again on the same day the Leafs put his higher ranked Harvard University teammate, forward Nick Abruzzese, on waivers. The Beaconsfield, Que. native blocked four shots Thursday, tied for the team high. He’d showed some offensive flair last spring for the Marlies with three playoff goals.
Philiippe Myers (158 NHL games) had a solid night on the blueline as well. Centre Cedric Pare, who earned notoriety for the wrong reasons last week for an unintentional knee-on-knee that injured Montreal’s Patrik Laine, had a great slot chance in the middle period.
Winger Alex Nylander was in his third exhibition game, but it was a quiet one and, as expected, he’ll have to hone his game on the farm with his existing AHL contact to earn a shot with older brother William on the big team.
Cowan, 2023’s first-round pick, has yet to have a breakout game, but can’t be placed with the farm team Marlies. Rather than return him to the OHL London Knights, where he’s already over-achieved, Toronto might keep him long term as a reserve with at least nine games ti burn before a final call would have to be made on returning him to junior or eventually play for Canada at the world junior hockey championships in December.
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