CANADIENS
Montreal

5-2

MAPLE LEAFS
Toronto

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Addison – Audette – Reway
Pezzetta – Petti – Bitten
Boucher – Ebbing – Fortier
McEwan – Alain – Waked
Goulet[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Mete – Juulsen
Leblanc – Brook
Bourque – Fleury
Tyszka
Walford[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:

McNiven
Samuel

Scratches:

Injured Reserve: 

Game Report

The unofficial start of hockey season got underway on Friday night as the rookies from the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs met at Ricoh Coliseum for the start of the 2017 Rookie Tournament.

For the opening 20 minutes, both teams seemed to be feeling each other out a bit, with shots on goal relatively even at 9-7 in favor of Toronto. Thomas Ebbing got the Habs on the board first, with a slick deke through the slot to wrist the puck into the net. Things began heating up toward the end of the frame, with Michael Pezzetta and Kristian Pospisil each called for a two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the intermission horn.

Pezzetta picked up where he left off shortly into the second period when he dropped the gloves with Keaton Middleton for an intense bout full of connecting fists. After that, the Maple Leafs took over the game, with the Canadiens sitting back a bit at both ends of the ice. The Leafs scored twice to take a one-goal lead heading into the third period.

Acting Head Coach Martin Lapointe told us after the game that his players took it upon themselves to get their focus and determination back for the third period, and it showed. Speedy Will Bitten tied the game early, followed by a wrister from Alexandre Alain.

Ebbing went on to score a second goal on the night, this time unassisted, and then Daniel Audette came through with a power play goal to put the Leafs away for good with a 5-2 final score.

▲     Daniel Audette, Will Bitten, Victor Mete, Thomas Ebbing, Jeremiah Addison, Michael McNiven

▼

1. N/A  —
2. N/A  —
3. N/A  —

Post-game interview with Martin Lapointe

Post-game interview with Martin Reway

Post-game interview with Michael McNiven

Post-game interview with Daniel Audette

Quotes courtesy of AHL Report

We're at Ricoh Coliseum for #Habs vs #MapleLeafs to open the 2017 Rookie Tournament #gohabsgo @RocketSports @FlyersRule @TheAHLReport pic.twitter.com/aX1WVYEv6I

— All Habs (Canadiens) (@AllHabs) September 8, 2017

Your starting lineup! #RookieTournament @AllHabs @TheAHLReport @RocketSports #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/OXVWwg1R1X

— Matt Smith (@Snakebite350) September 8, 2017

Want some 1st period hot takes from @AllHabs teammate @Snakebite350 – we've got 'em! @TheAHLReport @RocketSports pic.twitter.com/yCPWNr5BqC

— Amy (@FlyersRule) September 8, 2017

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