Robertson held off scoreboard in Maple Leafs preseason loss

Article content

Nick Robertson didn’t score in Ottawa on Tuesday night.

Article content

Given the competitive fight for jobs on the wings in the preseason, the 23-year-old had to be hoping for more in the Maple Leafs’ second preseason game.

The Leafs lost 2-1 at the Canadian Tire Centre against the Ottawa Senators with the deciding goal scored by Zack Ostapchuk at 12:36 of the third period.

Robertson played in all situations and had 18 minutes 40 seconds of ice time, second among Leafs forwards to Bobby McMann’s 18:44. Though Robertson played with the kind of hustle we’ve come to expect from him, he wasn’t able to make an offensive difference against a Senators team that dressed a good group of its veterans.

Robertson finished with two shots on goal on six attempts. When he was on the ice for more than 11 minutes at five-on-five, the Senators managed to record just two shots on goal. That will be noted by coach Craig Berube and his staff.

Article content

Article content

“You’re always competing,” Robertson said on Tuesday after the morning skate at the Ford Performance Centre. “I just got to do what I got to do. I’m focused on myself and playing well and coaches sort that stuff out.

“We’re all competitors. We’re not just competing against one guy. We’re always competitors in practice.”

Still, among the things you might remember from the Leafs’ first two preseason games is that Max Pacioretty, in camp on a professional tryout, scored two goals in the opener on Sunday and Robertson didn’t respond in that manner 48 hours later.

Something to keep in mind regarding Robertson, whose off-season request for a trade didn’t bear fruit. He will require waivers if the Leafs decide to send him to the Toronto Marlies. Though general manager Brad Treliving couldn’t find a trade partner during the summer, you can bet Robertson would be claimed if the Leafs tried to get him through.

Article content

And we’ll also keep in mind that the majority of the preseason remains with four games still on the Leafs’ schedule. There’s time for Robertson to put the puck in the net. And he’s bound to get a chance in the top nine, alongside one of Auston Matthews, William Nylander or John Tavares in the next week or so.

On Tuesday, Robertson skated on a line with McMann and Pontus Holmberg.

Meanwhile, another youngster with eyes on a role to start the regular season didn’t make an impact. That would be Easton Cowan, who quietly had one shot on goal and one other attempt. Cowan led all Leafs in power-play time with 4:36, but couldn’t help Toronto from going 0-for-4 with a man advantage.

STEEVES STEPS UP

Alex Steeves hasn’t been in serious consideration for a bottom-six job with the Leafs, but he ensured he was noticed when he opened the scoring at 6:29 of the first, beating Sens goalie Anton Forsberg with a quick shot along the ice.

Article content

Steeves also led all Leafs with eight hits.

The reality for Steeves is that he’s facing an uphill battle as he vies for a spot. Despite three solid seasons with the Toronto Marlies, including 57 points in 65 games in 2023-24, he hasn’t earned a true shot with the NHL club, playing in a total of seven games.

We’ll see if he can continue to make a strong push as the preseason progresses, but he’s likely bound for the Marlies again to start the regular season. That’s more of a comment on who Steeves is competing against than it is on his individual play.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

STOLARZ SHINES

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz, in his Toronto preseason debut after signing a two-year, $5-million US contract in July, sparkled.

Stolarz started in the Leafs net and stopped 15 shots, allowing only a goal by Sens defenceman Jake Sanderson at 16:27 of the first period.

Article content

Before giving way to Dennis Hildeby midway through the second as planned, Stolarz played with the kind of confidence you would expect from someone who won the Stanley Cup (to be sure, in a minor role) with the Florida Panthers last spring.

The Leafs want to know that Stolarz can be capable in the event that Joseph Woll is injured. Tiny sample size, for sure, but Stolarz demonstrated as much on Tuesday.

ICE CHIPS

Berube summed up the Leafs’ effort this way in his post-game scrum with reporters: “I thought we were aggressive in all three zones, we were on the forecheck hard and were physical and winning battles. I thought our guys did a good job of tracking back in our zone, not giving up odd-man rushes. It was a pretty hard-fought game for us. Could execution be better with the puck? For sure.” … Ostapchuk scored the winner after he intercepted a pass by Toronto defenceman Nicolas Mattinen and beat Hildeby with a deke. Ottawa was short-handed at the time … The Sens’ Ridly Greig departed the game in the first period after he was thrown to the ice by Holmberg. Afterward, Sens coach Travis Green told reporters that Greig had a headache and was kept out for precautionary reasons. Ottawa wasn’t thrilled with Holmberg on the play — he was assessed a roughing minor — and early in the third period, Cole Reinhardt engaged Holmberg in a fight … The Leafs won just 20 of 56 faceoffs. Holmberg won seven draws and lost 13, while David Kampf won six and lost nine … Nikita Grebenkin, who got the crowd going in Toronto on Sunday when he fought Ottawa’s Adam Gaudette, missed his check on the Sanderson goal, allowing the latter to take advantage of an open lane … McMann had six shots on goal and eight attempts, leading the Leafs in both categories.

[email protected]

X: @koshtorontosun

Article content