After scoring just six goals in the first three games of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs held an optional skills practice on Sunday morning.
“We like to do that, and we haven’t had a chance to do that with the schedule,” said coach Jim Hiller. “So, guys get out there, touch the puck a little bit. I think it’s no secret we’re having a tough time burying chances ... so maybe a day like today helps that.”
Toronto’s top line of Auston Matthews, Kirill Marchenko and Jack Roslovic joined six other skaters, who also played last night, on the ice for a workout overseen by the team’s director of NHL development, Patrick O’Sullivan.
“Well, they want to score, right?” Hiller said. “I mean, they’ve been around it a lot but, again, not falling, posts, crossbars ... so they’re out there trying to get better, which is great.”
Matthews scored his first goal of the season in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, although Marchenko was on the bench at the time dealing with an equipment issue. Marchenko also scored his first of the season on Saturday, though his strike came on the power play.
“You want to get your first one,” Hiller said. “So hopefully that helps to just loosen things up a little bit, and we see them start to go consistently.”
Since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade on Monday, Marchenko has only had one full practice with the Leafs.
Matthews and Marchenko ended Sunday’s session by passing the puck back and forth to each other in the neutral zone.
“We’re going in a good direction,” Matthews stressed following Saturday’s game. “I think each night the chemistry’s growing a little bit more and more. The more practice time we get and game time, it’s going to continue to get better. But, I mean, he’s a heck of a player and obviously a beautiful goal, and he made some really nice plays.”
After registering four shots on net in the first two games, Matthews tested Linus Ullmark six times on Saturday night.
“I thought we hounded pucks a little bit better,” Matthews said. “I think we can do a better job of sustaining O-zone [time], but I thought we worked really hard and were able to turn pucks over and try to go the other way and just [be] heavy on pucks. I mean, I think that’s the name of the game.
“I think the ice out there can be tough sometimes, especially towards the end of the period, and you’ve got to kind of keep it a little bit more simple, you know, the right play sometimes is just getting it down low and trying to get on top of their D and outwork the opponent.”
Roslovic (69), Matthews (67) and Marchenko (65) trail only Easton Cowan (73) for the team lead in expected goals percentage, per NaturalStatTrick.com. Despite the lack of actual goals early in the season, Hiller appreciates how his top line is operating.
“They’ve been dangerous offensively and they really haven’t given much up defensively either,” the coach said. “They’ve got some really favourable splits, so it’s not like they’re cheating for offence. They’re playing both ways and they’re creating. We’re just waiting for the night that, you know, two, three, or four actually end up going in the net.”
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Hiller, who served as an assistant with the Leafs early in Matthews’ career, likes how the 29-year-old centre is setting the tone for the team as the captain.
“It’s been everything I could have hoped for,” the coach gushed. “Spent three years with him when he was a young guy and I felt I could just see someday him being the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and leading and playing the game the right way. As I mentioned, lots of chances for and not much against, so he’s just doing all of that right now.”
New Leafs winger Brandon Duhaime describes Matthews as “a perfect captain” considering what he is bringing both on and off the ice.
“He’s welcomed all of us really well, the new guys,” winger Colton Sissons said of Matthews. “And just has a presence, I guess I would say, around him. He’s a very calm, kind of reserved guy, which is nice to have in the locker room. Being even [keeled in] a season that can have some highs and lows, I think he’s going to be great for that. So, so far, so good. I’ve been impressed.”
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What did it feel like for Marchenko to score his first goal with the Leafs?
“Oh, it’s amazing feeling and I’m happy for that so much, but I’d be most happy if we win the game,” Marchenko said. “It’s a couple nice passes to me and I just need to make my moves. Yeah, it’s unbelievable feeling and how fans support me too. My partners on the ice, teammates, it’s unbelievable but still we need to find a way how to win these games.”
The 26-year-old Russian opened his media session by apologizing for taking an offensive-zone, high-sticking penalty on Tim Stutzle in the third period, which led to the game-winning goal by Stephen Halliday.
“Just battle on the puck,” Marchenko said. “My stick touch his face and he’s kind of like dive, no dive, I don’t want to say anything about that, but it’s penalty. Penalty is penalty and it’s on me. I can play better next time in this moment.”
“His stick comes up, it’s a penalty,” Hiller said. “That’s just the way it works. Got to keep your stick down.”
Matthews made a diving gesture after the play, but did not voice any frustration with Stutzle when asked about the call.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I mean, the refs obviously see what they see, and it’s a quick game, and you have to respect that. But I think we could definitely do a better job just with our sticks there.”
On the ensuing faceoff following the Halliday goal, Roslovic tripped Michael Amadio, which allowed the Senators to go right back on the power play.
“The two penalties in the third period really hurt us,” Hiller said. “Just took our momentum away a little bit, gave them some life, and they pushed hard.”
The Senators outshot the Leafs 16-5 in the third period.
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None of the players on the second line – John Tavares, William Nylander and Gavin McKenna – participated in Sunday’s practice. The chemistry with that group remains a work in progress.
“Thought they started really well and you’d like them to get a little bit more again,” Hiller said. “There were some flashes there for sure. They had some good looks. First period, I thought Gavin was really skating. I thought Willie skated pretty well all night, and John had some looks. You know, just not going in here for that crew right now.”
Nylander picked up an assist, but it came when he replaced Marchenko on the top line for a shift. Tavares recorded a secondary assist on Marchenko’s man-advantage marker. McKenna remains without a point in his NHL career.
“With penalties and stuff it’s hard to get that flow going,” Nylander said. “But I think we started the game really well, and were skating very well and generating a few chances.”
Before the season, Hiller acknowledged that defensive play would be the biggest challenge for the second line and that is proving to be the case. Nylander has been on the ice for a team-high four goals against in 5-on-5 play while Tavares and McKenna have been on for three.
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The Halliday goal came just after the Marchenko penalty expired so the Leafs are still perfect (10/10) on the penalty kill this season.
“It’s been good,” said centre Teddy Blueger, who is logging the third most shorthanded ice time among the forward group. “I think our energy’s been good. The effort’s been there. Guys are blocking shots. Obviously we’ve got some big saves, timely saves as well.”
Blueger is doing a good job creating traffic for opposing power plays, but is struggling with congestion off the ice.
“Probably taking almost an hour to get to the game rink,” Blueger said when asked about his welcome-to-Toronto moment.
Blueger, who signed a two-year deal with the Leafs in the summer, points out that sometimes it’s only a 20 or 25 minute commute from his home to Scotiabank Arena. So, how is the 32-year-old Latvian adapting to Toronto’s traffic?
“Taking the subway seems to be a little more consistent,” he noted. “But, other than that, it seems like it’s a little unpredictable, and you just kind of got to find your way. Just constantly check your phone throughout the day, see what it’s looking like and if there’s a lot of red or not.”
Blueger previously played in Vancouver, Las Vegas and Pittsburgh during his NHL career.
“I think just the adjustment to the city has been quite drastic for me,” he admitted. “Quite different than anywhere I’ve played. A lot busier, so it takes a little longer to get down the game to figure out all those logistics.”
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After Sunday’s practice, the Leafs held a family skate, which allowed players and staff to bring loved ones out on the ice with them.
It represented another bonding opportunity for a team that features 10 newcomers on the roster as well as a new coaching staff.
“Getting to know each other as people is pretty important,” Blueger said. “I think the family aspect of it is big too. And, I mean, you don’t all have to be best friends, but I think it’s important to just know each other, know each other’s backgrounds, respect each other as people. I think that kind of helps bring everyone together.”
Family time together is helpful for building chemistry, as is story time. And it’s quite possible Blueger and Sissons will end up bonding by reliving their fight from last season.
“We actually haven’t talked about it yet for whatever reason,” Sissons said. “I’m sure it’ll come up at a dinner or someone will bring the video up at some point here.”
“Honestly, I hardly thought about that fight at all,” Blueger said with a grin. “But, yeah, that’s funny ... Things change fast in hockey and one day you can be doing that, and the next day [he’s] your teammate.”
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The Leafs will hold a full practice on Monday as they get set to host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. That game will be the finale of a season-opening four game homestand.
With Toronto starting the year 1-2-0, Blueger is calling it a “very significant” game.
“It’s important,” agreed Duhaime. “A lot of times you look at the finished product at the end of the season, once you’re in the playoffs, out of the playoffs, and it’s by two points, you know, four points.”
After Tuesday’s game the Leafs will head out on the road for a challenging trip that features games against the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche and Utah Mammoth, who all made the playoffs last season.
“Obviously, finishing up a long homestand here, it’s important for us to feel good about our game,” Sissons said. “Heading out onto a big road trip with some tough tests on that trip, so a big win at home to finish things off would be timely for us for sure.”
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Tuesday’s game will be a little extra meaningful for Sissons, who played the first 11 seasons of his career in Nashville.
“I spend quite a bit of my off-season in Nashville, so it hasn’t been too long since I was skating with those boys,” he said.
Sissons was traded to Vegas after the 2024-25 season and faced the Predators twice last year, including an emotional return to The Music City.
Sissons lists defenceman Roman Josi, forward Filip Forsberg and goalie Juuse Saros as the Predators players he’s closest with.
Does Sissons have a good idea where he’ll shoot if he gets a chance on Saros on Tuesday?
“I mean, hopefully bar down or something,” he said with a smile. “We’ll see if that comes to fruition. Juice is a good goaltender, but we’ll be trying to do our best to beat him for sure.”
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Attendance at optional practice on Sunday:
Teddy Blueger
Dakota Joshua (week-to-week with core injury)
Nick Paul
Jack Roslovic
Brendan Bonnello (EBUG)
Lines in Saturday’s game:
Marchenko - Matthews - Roslovic
McKenna - Tavares - Nylander
Cowan - Paul - Sissons
Duhaime - Blueger - Groulx
McCabe - Tanev
Rielly - Raddysh
Ekman-Larsson - Stecher
Bobrovsky starts
Stolarz
