Lorentz, Matthews propel Maple Leafs to win in preseason finale

Article content

Auston Matthews is paid to score goals.

Article content

Steven Lorentz is not.

Well, Lorentz won’t be paid to score when he signs with the Maple Leafs after attending camp on a professional tryout.

Both the Leafs’ captain and a player who is in line for an opening-night job after earning it in camp scored in Toronto’s preseason finale on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.

In a 3-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings, Matthews served up a reminder of what he does so well, blasting a shot past Wings goalie Ville Husso on a one-timer off a pass from Mitch Marner. That came during a Toronto power play in the second period.

For good measure, Matthews deked through a couple of Wings to set up John Tavares for a power-play goal, and the winner, in the third.

An errant Max Pacioretty pass led to the first Wings goal, by Christian Fischer. Andrew Copp scored on a power play for Detroit.

Article content

Detroit couldn’t get another shot past Woll and the Leafs concluded their six-game preseason with a record of 4-1-1.

“It’s a nice to finish on a win,” Matthews said. “Felt better in the second and third periods. As a team, we played a little more direct in the second half of the game. It will be nice to reset (on Sunday), have a couple of good practices and get right to it (for the regular-season opener in Montreal on Wednesday).”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

GET LORENTZ A CONTRACT

If there was any small notion Lorentz had not secured a contact before Saturday, he made it clear against the Wings.

He has earned a deal.

Lorentz’s goal in the first period was set up by Ryan Reaves, who did the work on the forecheck to take possession.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Lorentz brings a physical presence to the fourth line. If there is some touch there as well, all the better. Lorentz also has worth as a penalty killer. When the Leafs had to kill off a two-man Wings advantage in the first period, Lorentz was the Toronto forward who was given the responsibility.

Article content

Article content

A fourth line of David Kampf between Lorentz and Reaves has been working together for much of camp and progressing along the way.

“They were great (Saturday night),” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “I know they got a goal, but they just controlled the play and made it tough on the other team, dragging pucks in the offensive zone and checking well. That’s what we need. They’re a big line.”

Lorentz said he will head home to the Kitchener-Waterloo area on Sunday to hang out with family as he awaits his contract news.

“It was a heck of a way to finish it,” Lorentz said. “Our line, it was nice to chip in.

“I blacked out a bit there, knowing things have come full circle, coming to this rink as a kid and watching (the Leafs) as a young guy, and being able to do that and put my arms over my head, it was a pretty special feeling.

Article content

“We’ll see (about a contract). That’s out of my control. I did my part and we’ll see what happens. I’m happy with the way I played. It’s a deep team and they have a lot of hard decisions to make, and that’s a good sign when you have an organization that has that much depth.”

What does Matthews think of Lorentz?

“A solid all-around game,” Matthews said. “Plays very heavy, very direct. He knows his role to a T and he plays to it every night. It’s really important to have guys like that.

“He has made a great impression. Off the ice, he has a great attitude and comes to the rink with lots of jump.”

Pacioretty is in line for a contract as well after attending camp on a PTO.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

LINEUP NEARLY SET

For all intents and purposes, the Leafs’ roster for Wednesday against the Canadiens is set.

Article content

Still, this was Berube after the game: “We got tough decisions, for sure. I’m not going comment on it, but we have decisions to make.”

Let’s have a look at the lineup, then.

Joseph Woll, backed up by Anthony Stolarz, went the distance against the Wings and finished with 18 saves.

Woll’s best stop came in the first period when he stretched across the crease to deny Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. Woll is your starter.

On the blue line, Jake McCabe remains day to day with an upper body injury, and his spot in the lineup on Saturday was taken by Philippe Myers.

Will McCabe get back into the mix on Monday when the Leafs reconvene for practice at the Ford Performance Centre after a day off on Sunday?

“That’s a good chance, I’m hoping,” Berube said. “He was a lot better today. We’ll see if he keeps improving tomorrow and maybe gets back on the ice on Monday. It’ll be great.”

Article content

Against the Wings, the pairs were Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev; Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Myers; and Simon Benoit and Conor Timmins.

Timothy Liljegren was not in the lineup, another indication of his lower place on the depth chart.

At forward, Nick Robertson (upper body) skated on Saturday morning but did not play. Calle Jarnkrok (lower body) was not on the ice with his teammates and still is day to day.

The lines that Berube used against the Wings also included Matthews between Matthew Knies and Marner; Tavares at centre with Max Domi and William Nylander; and Pontus Holmberg between Pacorietty and Bobby McMann.

As long as Robertson and McCabe are ready for Wednesday, they will be play. That would bring Myers out of the lineup.

Article content

The lone question for Berube is who comes out if Robertson is good to go.

If Berube is set on his first, second and fourth lines — and we don’t see any changes to them if everyone is healthy through practices on Monday and Tuesday — that means one of McMann or Pacioretty would not play in the opener.

The deadline for general manager Brad Treliving and assistant GM Brandon Pridham to make it all fit and get the Leafs into a cap compliant spot is fast approaching. Rosters are due to the NHL by 5 p.m. on Monday.

Liljegren could be a casualty. The player himself sounded on Friday like he would not be surprised if he is traded.

Defenceman Jani Hakanpaa (knee) and forward Connor Dewar (shoulder) could be placed on longterm injured reserve to start the season, but neither is far off from returning. The status of Jarnkrok is to be determined as well.

Article content

The expectation is that forward Easton Cowan soon will be returned the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.

TIMMINS STEPS UP

Timmins put himself into the top six with a fine camp.

“He’s played well, he has been highly competitive,” Berube said. “First and foremost, (he is) playing defence. You have to defend and be competitive and do all the things there that we need. I like his puck movement. Moves the puck well, sees the ice well, moves it well.”

Timmins, whose NHL career has been stalled by injuries at various times, has an idea that he is in a good spot.

“I feel comfortable, I’m moving my feet well,” Timmins said. “I’ve felt confident in the games and like where my game is at.

“I’ve just been worried about playing my own game. I think it fits well into the system. Just playing hard, playing fast, moving pucks up, and it’s been a good fit so far.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

Article content