The Toronto Maple Leafs did not play their best game of the preseason last night, falling to the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 7 to 3. The contest remained close throughout the first two periods before slipping away in the third. Finnish rookie Jussi Rynnas received quite the welcoming to the NHL, allowing all seven goals on 34 shots. Additionally, those of us who chatted it up during the GDT are now properly educated in the correct way to develop young goaltending (you have to make sure they get shutouts, DUH! /bangs head on desk). Kessel, Bozak, and Grabovski were the three Leaf scorers on the night, and all three were magnificent goals. Nazem Kadri played on a line with Grabbo and Nik Kulemin, but was mostly ineffective and will almost certainly begin the season with the Marlies.
UPDATE: Phil Kessel turns 23 today.
Saturday links after the jump....oh, and MF37 wants everyone to know that he is a Leafs fan of unbridled happiness and optimism.
Saturday links:
Our AHL affiliate played their first preseason game last night.
Darcy Tucker retires, but the cap hit lingers on
MF37 has some thoughts on Tucker's exit from hockey.
How Burke and Wilson decided who plays in the bottom-6
Blue Chip Prospects with a little Saturday morning humor.
Clarke MacArthur and Mikhail Grabovski
Leafs Nation Online continues their season preview series.
Maple Leafs - Red Wings post game thoughts
MLHS on what to take away from last night's tilt.
Phaneuf: A little bit like a lot of old Leafs
Is Phaneuf a throwback to Leafs of days gone bye?
Leafs Picture Comics #5: Arrested Development
Marc Pilgrim with more photo goodies.
