Sport-scan daily brief

We all wish we were there, simple as that.

So this last part, I’ll address to those who are lucky enough to actually be there, particularly the blessed folks in the platinum seats. How many times has a game started and those seats are empty, because people are still enjoying themselves in the swanky lounges under the seats?

Players have lamented that the ACC is one of the quietest stadiums, and the atmosphere doesn’t compare to some of the other churches of hockey. You are the lucky ones. Obviously this town lives and dies with the Leafs and sports fandom is about irrational love. Maybe it’s time you guys acted like it.

That’s something I’d really like to see when I’m stuck watching from the “comfort” of my couch.

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.05.2013

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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators: Saturday game preview

By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter, Published on Fri Oct 04 2013

AIR CANADA CENTRE

TIME: 7 p.m.

TV: CBC

RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The Fan

F Frazer McLaren (finger)

D Mark Fraser (knee)

SENATORS INJURIES

C Jason Spezza (groin)

D Eric Gryba (upper body)

SCOUTING REPORT

The Senators played their first game of the season on Friday night against Buffalo . . . Colin Greening led all Ottawa scorers against Toronto last year with two goals and two assists . . . Ottawa G Craig Anderson went 0-2-0 against the Leafs with a 3.00 GAA and .880 save percentage . . . C Nazem Kadri led all Leaf scorers with five goals and two assists in five games against Ottawa . . . G James Reimer was 3-0-0, with a 1.68 GAA and .960 save percentage . . . The Sens outshot the Leafs 193-130 over five games last year, but the Leafs won four of them.

UP NEXT

Tuesday, Avs at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m., TSN

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Maple Leafs demote Nazem Kadri to third line

By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter, Published on Fri Oct 04 2013

Dave Bolland worked out on the Maple Leafs so-called second line with Joffrey Lupul and Nikolai Kulemin while Nazem Kadri took his demotion to the third line with Mason Raymond and Troy Bodie in stride.

“That’s just something that’s going to happen,” said Kadri. “Juggling lines, it’s not going to be the last time you see it. Every guy is good on this team, no matter what role you’re given. It means you have to pick it up a little more.”

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle got a little testy when asked about the Kadri-Bolland switch — which happened Wednesday in Philadelphia.

“You guys (the media) read too much into it, looking for negativity,” said Carlyle. “I don’t look at it that way. We have two very talented young players, one is more on the veteran side.

“There has been a lot of expectations on Kadri to be a second-line centre, coming off his point production last year. Does he have the talent? For sure he does. He’s a young player trying to find his way in the NHL.

“Because we moved him from one position to the next, it seems like it news. We’re just putting people in situations where we feel they can give us the best chance to win.”

The top line remained intact, with Tyler Bozak working out with James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel. The fourth line consisted of Jay McClement, Carter Ashton and Colton Orr. Jamie Devane and David Clarkson (suspended) were spares.

Meanwhile Morgan Rielly was paired with Jake Gardiner in anticipation of his first NHL game.

“I’m not even sure if I’m playing yet,” said Rielly. “I haven’t heard anything from the coaches.

“But if I got a chance to play it would be pretty exciting.”

Rielly gets a chance to play because the Leafs put Mark Fraser on the long-term injury list with an undisclosed injury, believed to be his knee. Fraser must now sit for the shorter of 10 games or 24 days.

Fraser’s first game to be eligible to return appears to be the Leafs in Edmonton on Oct. 29.

The Leafs can play Rielly up to nine games before burning the first year of his three-year entry level contract.

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.05.2013

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New-look Marlies open AHL season

By: Ronnie Shuker The Canadian Press, Published on Fri Oct 04 2013

Two hundred and fifty-four. That’s how many steps separate the Toronto Marlies from the big-league Maple Leafs.

Steve Spott knows this, because he counted the paces from his office to Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle’s at the teams’ practice facility.

That’s the kind of attention to detail he brings to his job as the new head coach of the American Hockey League’s Marlies from his days as an elementary schoolteacher.

“That must be my teaching background,” Spott said. “There’ll be no balls dropped here… I pride myself in details. For me, it’s knowing just how far away the Leafs are from these players. Those 254 paces are miles because of the fact that, as close as it is, it’s still extremely far away and the boys have a lot of work to do before they get there.”

The number 254 will be prominently displayed in the Marlies dressing room at Ricoh Coliseum, where Spott will have 20-plus new pupils after taking over for new Edmonton Oilers coach Dallas Eakins.

The Marlies are trending younger for 2013-14 after an exodus of veterans in the off-season. Gone are Will Acton (26), Tim Connolly (32), captain Ryan Hamilton (28), Mike Mottau (35), Greg Scott (25) and Mike Zigomanis (32). Moving up the depth chart are Tyler Biggs (20), David Broll (20), Josh Leivo (20), Andrew MacWilliam (23), Stuart Percy (20) and Garret Sparks (20) — all of whom played less than 10 games with the Marlies last season.

“You’re going to see more of a youthful look to our club this year,” Spott said. “We’re going to have a lot of new faces and probably a lot more prospects for the Leafs as opposed to some of the American League-type veterans that we’ve had in the past.”

Spott fits seamlessly into the Marlies’ makeover with his history of developing prospects into pros. He spent the past five seasons as head coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers, where he helped young stars like Jeff Skinner and Gabriel Landeskog jump straight to the NHL from junior as 18-year-olds. Others, like Ryan Murphy and Radek Faksa, have become first-round NHL draft picks or highly touted prospects.

“We as a group thought Steve Spott was one of the top young coaches available,” said Dave Poulin, Toronto’s vice-president of hockey operations. “Our decision to replace (Eakins) with Steve fits the development piece of it… We had an excellent list of candidates. Steve stood out as someone who understood what we wanted to do.”

The departure of so many veterans leaves leadership roles vacant on the Marlies roster. But Spott already has idea who he’d like to fill those positions.

“Gregg McKegg and Jerry D’Amigo are two players that come to mind that we’re going to count on early for their leadership,” Spott said. “Both those players understand the demands of playing professional hockey on and off the ice. Those are two guys right off the bat that I’ll lean on and I know that our kids will lean on to definitely lead the way.”

This is D’Amigo’s fourth season with the Marlies, but he’s still just 22. He came to Toronto as a 19-year-old out of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) from the NCAA, and he’s primarily played a penalty-killing/checking-line role. He’s now the second-longest tenured Marlie, after Korbinian Holzer, and relishes the opportunity to take on a greater role.

“I’m ready for that,” D’Amigo said. “A lot of guys aren’t ready for that role or don’t want to take it upon themselves to do it. But for me, I love it. I want to be that guy. I’m ready for it if it comes to me.”

With the injection of youth into the Marlies, particularly up front, management brought back Drew MacIntyre, who at 30 years old will be the oldest player on the team. He shone in 21 games last season, posting a 13-5-3 record, 1.83 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

“We’re going to need his game to be at the top of his level because of the fact we’re going to rely on him,” Spott said. “We are going to make some mistakes and we’re going to need Drew to be there to mop up some of the messes that eventually could happen. He’s going to be critical for us.”

Under Eakins, the Marlies finished second in the Western Conference each of his past two seasons, reaching the Calder Cup final in 2012. With the team in transition, Toronto brass is tempering expectations for 2013-14, even as they push the Marlies to make those 254 steps up to becoming Leafs.

“I don’t think you can quantify (this season) in terms of wins and losses, because we’re all-in on the development side,” Poulin said. “While we had successful years, we also developed players to play on the big club during those years… If we continue to develop players and continue to push the players at each position and push up through the system, then it’ll be a successful year.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.05.2013

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Maple Leafs goaltending battle not an impossible situation, ex-NHLers say

By: Mark Zwolinski Sports reporter, Published on Fri Oct 04 2013

As part of two of the most successful goalie tandems in history, Andy Moog understands how a two-goalie system can work — and fail.

Moog, who teamed with Grant Fuhr on the Edmonton Oiler dynasty in the 1980s and with Reggie Lemelin on the 1989-90 Bruins, found the experiences very positive. But the timing in his career and his unwavering respect for his goalie “partner” were key ingredients behind the success.

“I think for Grant and I, we were both at an age where expectations weren’t as great on us as they were later on in our careers,” said Moog, who now works Dallas Stars broadcasts for Fox Sports.

“We didn’t have expectations of 60 to 70 games, we were just competing to get into the net. We didn’t have much in the way of systems, we relied on each other a lot. I thought cooperating and being supportive was more important than trying to top him.”

Will that be the case for the Leafs with Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer on the depth charts? For certain, the expectations on both Leaf goalies are that each is poised to become a No. 1 goalie — a different dynamic than Moog faced in Edmonton with Fuhr.

In fact Bernier has been billed as a certain No. 1 for the past two seasons, a goalie ready emerge from the shadow of Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles. He was stellar in his 14 outings last season, finishing up the lockout-shortened season as one of only four goalies with an above .920 save percentage, and a GAA lower than 2.00. He was stellar in Wednesday’s win over the Flyers.

Reimer has survived the high-pressure atmosphere in Toronto. While he was minding the net when in that stunning game 7 collapse against Boston last spring, he’d stopped 72 of 74 shots in games 5 and 6. Reimer was in net for the season-opening win over the Canadiens.

So far, the two goalies have just begun their relationship, but it couldn’t have been easy for the likeable Reimer to endure a summer where the Leafs targeted Bernier, spurring talk that he wouldn’t survive a two-goalie system.

Moog stresses a positive, supportive relationship between the two goalies, should the Leafs or any team opt to equally divide the workload between two goalies.

Moog played 46 games for the Bruins in 89-90, and ranked fourth in the league with a 2.89 GAA; Lemelin was third with a 2.81 mark in 43 games. In Edmonton, Moog started anywhere from 30 to 50-plus games, posting GAAs no lower than 3.30 and logging a save percentage below .900 in the Stanley Cup years.

Moog said the Oilers coaching staff helped make the goalie tandem work, even though head coach Glen Sather ranted at both goalies, perhaps keeping up a veneer of disappointment that he may have wanted his players to see.

“The coaches left us alone mostly,” Moog said.

“Slats was hard on us, but he knew we had the type of team that would expose goalies time to time. Muck (assistant coach John Muckler) and Ted Green propped us back up afterwards. I think a coaching staff has to work hard to communicate to goalies, the head coach has to communicate to both guys, make sure there’s a clear line open to both guys. It’s a position not like any other on the team. And you need to support each other as goalies in that system.”

Toronto goalie coach Rick St. Croix has quietly been credited with turning Reimer around, and stabilizing the goalie position in Toronto after a rough period at the end of Ron Wilson’s coaching tenure.

If the Leafs do employ a two-goalie system, it will be critical to communicate a schedule to both goalies. Beyond that, should one of the two Leaf goalies get relegated to backup duties, it will be incumbent on him to fill a certain role in the dressing room.

Former NHL goalie Darren Pang believes the key in a two-goalie system is for the lesser-used goalie to make himself eminently likeable to the rest of the team.

Pang, who works broadcasts for the St. Louis Blues, witnessed that dynamic firsthand: The Blues have emerged as the NHL’s pre-eminent club in the judicious use of a two-goalie system. Both Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott set a record for that system, collectively posting 15 shutouts two seasons ago.

But Pang warns that the Blues were one of the NHL’s most “complete” teams. That, too, is a pivotal factor in the success of a two-goalie system.

“When you see that number — 15 shutouts two years ago, you see that the Blues are the most complete team in the league. They block shots, their centers play goal line to goal line, so having that system was an easy sell for Hitch (coach Ken Hitchcock) when he came in.”

Pang, though, alluded to the fact the Blues were somewhat lucky to have a goalie package where Elliott brought a likeable personality and attitude.

In his own experience, Pang had a strong relationship with Bob Mason on the Chicago Blackhawks in the early 1990’s, and a rough one with Ed Belfour in Chicago a few years later.

“My first full year was in Chicago with Bob Mason. Bob had that amazing triple overtime game against the Islanders in the playoffs the year before (with Washington) and they (Chicago) signed him as a No. 1. I was the backup and by the end of the season I played most of the games and started in the playoffs. I learned that as competitive as I was, I still had respect for my partner. Sure, when I got the net, I didn’t want to give it up to him or anyone. Lets face it, we’re (goalies) individuals in a team sport, that’s what goalies are. If you are not selfish that way, you are in the wrong sport.

“But Bob and I roomed together and our wives hung out, we all went to dinner. I also had Ed Belfour and he only wanted the net. At one point it came to him pushing me out of the net in practice. We actually came to blows in practice, that’s how much he wanted it.”

Reimer, who is deeply religious and universally supportive of his teammates, is not likely to come to blows with Bernier. But his confidence could take another serious hit should Bernier grab the No. 1 job.

Reimer’s confidence levels will be key to the Leafs if Reimer ends up in a backup role. And the Leafs, while they have two No. 1 goalies in waiting, appear to be setting the table for one of them to claim the top job.

Can a two goalie system work?

“If we have two goalies that are good, then it’s better for us … if we have a guy who takes the ball and runs with it, that’s better for us,” coach Randy Carlyle said.

“I’ve said in the past, win and you’re in . . . but if we play three games in four nights, then there are some variables there to consider. We think it’s healthy to have competition. Most of the situations I’ve been in (as coach) we’ve had competition, and most of the time it finds a way of working things out. Usually their play indicates things to you . . . but I like to say 1A and 1B because we they’re both good goalies.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.05.2013

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Maple Leafs: Who should start in net for home opener? Reimer or Bernier?

By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter, Published on Fri Oct 04 2013

James Reimer or Jonathan Bernier?

Who should play in net on Saturday in the Maple Leafs home opener — a Battle of Ontario game — against the Ottawa Senators?

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle never tips his hand on starting goalies. The only hint is the day of the game: the goalie working out in the Leafs net for the first and third periods is typically the game starter.

The case in favour of Reimer.

He’s the incumbent and has done nothing to lose the job. . . . He won the season-opener in Montreal and is more used to pressure situations than Bernier. . . Reimer was 3-0-0 with a 1.68 GAA and .960 save percentage...

The case in favour of Bernier

As good as Reimer was against Montreal, Bernier was better against Philadelphia when the Leafs were badly outshot. The Senators managed almost 40 shots a game against the Leafs last season. . . . Reimer got the coveted season-opener. Nothing wrong with spreading the “coveted” jobs around and the home opener on Hockey Night in Canada is pretty big.

Meanwhile, it looks as if Morgan Rielly will get his first taste of NHL action on Saturday night in the Maple Leafs home opener against the Ottawa Senators.

Rielly — one of six healthy Leaf defencemen who took the ice for practice on Friday — is the logical replacement for Mark Fraser, who was placed on the long-term injured reserve list with a hurt knee.

Reilly practised with Jake Gardiner.

The Leafs also called up winger Jamie Devane on Friday.

Rielly fit right in during the pre-season games. Leafs coach Randy Carlyle has made it clear that his preference is for Rielly not to play every game. Carlyle feels it’s just as important to Rielly’s development if he practises and travels with the team.

At 19, the Leafs only choices for him are to keep him on the NHL roster or send him back to major junior. The AHL is not an option for teenagers.

Rielly can play as many as nine games this season before kick-starting his three-year entry-level contract. If he plays a 10th game this season, his contract kicks, in which fast-tracks him down the road towards his second contract, salary arbitration and ultimately free agency.

He can be on the roster indefinitely. It’s only games played that matters.

Carlyle had hinted the Leafs would play Rielly sparingly in the fall, then release him for the Canadian entry into the world junior tournament.

It is possible, of course, for Rielly to shine and earn a spot. Both Jake Gardiner and Paul Ranger have had their struggles in the first two games. Gardiner has made a few defensive blunders. Ranger has taken too many penalties, evidence that he made need some time to catch up to the speed of the NHL having been away from the league for four years.

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.05.2013

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Maple Leafs home openers: Sometimes boring, but always special

By: Curtis Rush News reporter, Published on Fri Oct 04 2013

There is usually something special, something sentimental, about NHL home openers, and none more so than in the original NHL cities of Montreal and Toronto.

When the Canadiens hosted the Leafs on Tuesday night, Montreal brought back the legendary Guy Lafleur, who passed the torch to Canadiens newcomer Daniel Briere — and the tradition-loving fans, as usual, lapped it up.

The Leafs, by contrast, don’t always go for pomp in home opening ceremonies, and if you’re old enough, you’ll remember that was especially the case in the Harold Ballard ownership era.

Back in 1973, at the Maple Leafs’ home opener, Ballard himself was front and centre — for all the wrong reasons.

During the day, the owner had learned he was granted parole after serving one year of a three-year sentence for theft and fraud involving $205,000 of Gardens money.

The Star reported at the time that while at the game on a daypass from a halfway house, Ballard perpetuated another fraud by promising his team would be in the final.

Those were the days.

Even now, many fans who want their hockey — and want it now — prefer to skip the opening ceremonies when watching at home because, well, they tend to drag on.

The Leafs have given no hint at anything really special for Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre against the Ottawa Senators.

Maybe they’ll surprise us.

Of course, a mainstay, the 48th Highlanders, will perform, and a lucky fan will drop the puck. That fan will be the winner of the Leafs’ ongoing contest on mapleleafs.com.

However, the Leafs are not immune from making a big opening-night production.

They’ve hit a sentimental chord in the past by bringing back legends like Johnny Bower and Borje Salming to stir up the faithful and set a winning tone for the season.

However, home-opening ceremonies in Toronto have not always been a lot of fun.

Often, they can be solemn occasions, like commemorating a death.

They have even been, dare we say, boring? Like the time they trotted out former Premier Mike Harris to drop the puck. (no, offence, Mr. Harris.).

Last season’s opening ceremony proved to be one of the memorable occasions largely because fans were already giddy with anticipation after the lockout ended.

It wasn’t until Jan 21 that the Leafs got to see hockey in Toronto, and the Leafs seized the moment with an out-of-this-world experience.

They treated the fans to a ceremonial faceoff from astronaut Chris Hadfield, who “dropped” the puck from outer space.

The puck “dropped” into former goalie Felix Potvin’s glove. It was shared by Potvin, Darcy Tucker, Darryl Sittler and finally Johnny Bower, who dropped it at centre ice.

Here are some of the highlights of other home openers:

Oct, 4, 2006

The jerseys of Hap Day, Red Kelly and Borje Salming were retired. Kelly gave a witty pre-game speech and Salming got a huge ovation as the two had their numbers — 4 and 21, respectively — raised to the rafters, along with that of Hap Day, in a pre-game ceremony. The 48th Highlanders performed and Prime Minister Stephen Harper dutifully sat through the entire game.

Oct. 11, 2003

In a solemn occasion, front-line health workers were summoned to perform the ceremonial faceoff.

Oct, 4, 1999

The last home opener of the millennium was a solemn occasion when the Leafs paid tribute to a deceased loyal fan. At the ceremony, Amber Van Ryan and sister Megan choked back tears prior to opening faceoff held to honour their father, Rudy, who was a big fan in Alberta before he was killed in truck crash.

The two girls, who were flown by the Leafs to Toronto, were invited to drop the puck by then Leafs president Ken Dryden after he learned about the death in a senseless truck crash.

When Rudy was buried the previous March, his family tucked a blue Leafs’ team jersey, bearing No. 17 and donated by Wendel Clark, into the coffin with him.

All was not solemn that night.

During the ceremony, there also was a celebration of Paul Morris, who had retired the previous spring after 38 years as the Leafs’ public address announcer.

He received a rousing ovation from Air Canada Centre crowd.

Maple Leafs fans also gave Andy Frost the thumbs up in his debut that night as the new public address announcer.

As a final farewell, Morris announced the last minute of play in the third.

Oct. 11, 1995

Wendel Clark, who became one of the most popular Leafs when he hit the ice for his first shift in 1985-86, received an outburst of affection when he appeared as a New York Islander to face the Leafs in their 1995-96 home opener.