Fast start impressive for aggressive Leafs
Fast, aggressive, confident.
It's the vision members of the Toronto Maple Leafs had for the team entering the season, but couldn't be sure existed until they started playing meaningful games. The early returns have been even better than expected.
Newcomers Kris Versteeg and Clarke MacArthur each had a goal and an assist Saturday as the Maple Leafs displayed a well-balanced attack in a dominant 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators.
"That's a great style of hockey for our team," said MacArthur. "We didn't really give them a chance to even get anything going. We finished hits everywhere. That's what we want to do, we want to be rough and we want to slow guys down a lot finishing hits all nights.
"It wears teams out."
With two wins over division rivals to start the season, the formula has worked perfectly. Toronto's second victory didn't come until its 14th game a year ago, which is one of the reasons a good start to this season was thought to be essential.
For coach Ron Wilson, there's no mystery behind the better start.
"They're better players - period," he said.
The Leafs took advantage of an Ottawa team that was playing for the second time in as many nights, having dropped its season-opener 2-1 to Buffalo on Friday night.
It wasn't any easier as the Senators lost in OT last night in Washington.
Nikolai Kulemin, Phil Kessel and Tim Brent also scored for Toronto (2-0-0), while Jason Spezza replied for the Senators (0-2-0).
The Leafs are confident with the mix they've found early in the season.
The top line of Versteeg, Kessel and Tyler Bozak has looked extremely dangerous; MacArthur, Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski have provided secondary scoring; and Brent, the third-line centre, has a goal in both games while playing between Fredrik Sjostrom and Colby Armstrong.
It was a thorough victory.
The Leafs will enjoy a couple days off before heading out on the road with a visit to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.
The Canadian Press
