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| 4:00 PM PT5:00 PM MT6:00 PM CT7:00 PM ET0:00 GMT8:00 5:00 PM MST7:00 PM EST4:00 UAE (+1)19:00 ETNaN:� BRT, January 27, 2023 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario Attendance: 18,727 |
Newcomer gives Sens a boost ahead of Toronto trip
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs
- The Maple Leafs have won their last six home games versus the Senators (including a 3-2 win on October 15 this season) and they are 9-0-1 in their last 10 home games against them. Toronto had one other six-game home winning streak versus Ottawa, from February 2013 through April 2015.
- Ottawa's 2-1 victory against the Islanders on Wednesday was only the second non-shootout win over the last two seasons for the Senators in a game in which they scored no more than two goals. They beat the Blue Jackets by the same score in Columbus last season (Jan. 23).
- Claude Giroux has three goals and four assists over his last three games against Toronto, with at least two points in each game. His career high for consecutive multiple-point games versus one team is four, done three times, most recently against the Rangers in 2018.
- The Maple Leafs' current six-game home winning streak ties their season high, set from November 30 through December 22. Toronto's longest winning streak on home ice last season was seven games (Dec. 11-Feb. 17).
- Timothy Liljegren tallied one goal and one assist in Toronto's 3-2 overtime win against the Rangers on Wednesday. Liljegren leads Maple Leafs defensemen with eight points since the NHL's Christmas break (two goals, six assists in 15 games).
- Mitch Marner scored 19 seconds into overtime to beat the Rangers, 3-2, on Wednesday. That goal marked the fastest overtime winner by a Maple Leaf since Morgan Rielly scored 19 seconds into OT against Chicago on October 7, 2018. Marner is the seventh Maple Leaf all-time to score a goal within 20 seconds of the opening overtime faceoff.
Ridly Greig made a good impression in his NHL debut on Wednesday and the Ottawa Senators hope to see more of the same Friday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Greig had the primary assist on a power-play goal by Claude Giroux in the second period that turned out to be the game-winner in the Senators' 2-1 victory over the visiting New York Islanders.
Greig, 20, finished with a game-high eight shots on goal -- tied for the most in an NHL debut -- in 13:46 of ice time.
"When the opportunity comes I was going to shoot it," Greig said. "Just happened to be eight this time."
Greig was called up from the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League where he had 12 goals and 11 assists.
"He's fun to play with," Giroux said. "His game is very mature. I remember my first game, mentally I wasn't very there, so it's pretty impressive the way he was playing and winning puck battles. We had a good time."
The opposition will be more difficult on Friday. The Maple Leafs have won the first two contests of a five-game homestand.
Mitchell Marner scored 19 seconds into overtime with a superb individual effort in the Maple Leafs' 3-2 win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday. Toronto defenseman Timothy Liljegren scored the tying goal late in the third period.
"We kept the game close enough to give ourselves a chance to stay with it," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. "It was probably going to be one that we would have to end up shooting our way in and get a bounce to go our way. There was not a whole lot happening for us. You have to give credit to New York. They were on top of us."
William Nylander drew an assist on Toronto's second goal to give him 400 career points.
"It's a step on the way," Nylander said. "It's nothing I'm celebrating or anything. Just have to keep it going."
Ilya Samsonov, making his fourth straight start in goal for Toronto, stopped 27 shots.
Samsonov is 14-0-1 at home this season, the Maple Leafs' longest home point streak since Jacques Plante's 15-game streak in 1970-71.
"We believe in him and have high expectations, but nobody expects anybody to have a record like that," Keefe said. "It's quite remarkable."
Greig, who was selected by Ottawa in the first round (No. 28) of the 2020 NHL Draft, said he idolized Giroux growing up.
"It was unreal," Greig said. "You know, obviously, a dream come true, just to get out there and obviously to get the win. It's pretty good."
"He looked unreal, honestly," said Shane Pinto, who scored Ottawa's first goal. "That two-way game, we're going to need that, and he stepped up big for us (Wednesday) and to play that kind of game in your first NHL game is awesome. Very happy for him."
The Senators will be without goaltender Cam Talbot for an unknown period. He sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of the game Wednesday. Goaltender Kevin Mandolese was recalled from Belleville.
Talbot stopped all 14 shots he faced. Anton Forsberg, who took over for Talbot and allowed one goal on 22 shots on Wednesday, is expected to start in Toronto.
--Field Level Media
Updated January 26, 2023
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