{"id":2138,"date":"2023-09-16T17:09:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-16T17:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oldprof.nhltradetalk.com\/?p=2138"},"modified":"2023-09-16T17:53:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T17:53:09","slug":"maple-leafs-beat-stars-prospects-tourney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldprof.nhltradetalk.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/16\/maple-leafs-beat-stars-prospects-tourney\/","title":{"rendered":"Maple Leafs Beat Stars 5-1 in Game #2 of Prospects Tourney"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Stan Smith<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back from their 7-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament and soundly defeated the Dallas Stars 5-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I actually got to watch the whole game this time; and, I have to say how great it was to watch a hockey game.\u00a0The coverage was excellent, with multiple camera angles and excellent picture quality.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: 7 Cool Things About Maple Leafs\u2019 Eddie Shack<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now to the Game: The Maple Leafs Best Were the Best<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The players regarded as the Maple Leafs’ best players were the best players in this game. Easton Cowan was by far the best of the best.\u00a0Matthews Knies used his size and skill to his advantage all night winning numerous puck battles.\u00a0The line of Knies, Fraser Minten, and Max Ellis controlled play seemingly every shift.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n

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Six-foot-six inch Dennis Hildeby was solid in goal stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced.\u00a0He had no chance on the goal he did give up. The Maple Leafs were caught on a bad long change in the second period on that goal. It resulted in a 3-on-1 for the Stars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only highly-touted player who was not the best at their position was defenseman Topi Niemela.\u00a0The best defenseman for the Maple Leafs was Miko Kokkenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maple Leafs Goals Scored<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The goal scorers for the Maple Leafs were Minten, Kokkonen, Cowan, Jacob Fraska, and Brandon Lisowsky (Empty Net).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cowan, Kokkonen, and winger Ryan Tverberg combined for two goals with some slick passing, Minten scored on a one-timer from Ellis after Ellis stripped a Dallas player of the puck and gave him a sweet no-look backhander in the deep slot. Knies owned the puck behind the Stars\u2019 net for eleven seconds before dishing it out front to Fraska for his goal.\u00a0Then, 17 seconds later Frasca almost had another one when he had the Stars goalie down and out but rang the puck off the crossbar.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the score 4-1 Maple Leafs, Dallas pulled their goalie with over seven minutes left in the game giving Lisowsky the chance at the empty net.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: Three Reasons Why the Maple Leafs Love Calle Jarnkrok<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cowan, Knies & Minten Were Great on the PK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Where the skill set of Cowan, Knies, and Minten was the most notable was on the penalty kill.\u00a0In three shorthanded situations, those three players completely frustrated the Stars\u2019 power play. They controlled the play, outshot, and out-chanced the Stars while they were shorthanded.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niemela Was Not Ready for Prime Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not everything was roses for the Maple Leafs.\u00a0While it is just one game and only the second competitive game these players have played after a long offseason, one player who did not look game-ready was Niemela.\u00a0For a highly-touted defenseman and one who was declared the best defenseman at the most recent World Junior Tournament, Niemela was virtually invisible in the first two periods.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was more noticeable in the third period for both good and bad reasons.\u00a0The bad was when he took a slashing penalty after a Dallas forward got around him. The good news for him came when the Maple Leafs had two power plays in the third period.\u00a0Niemela\u2019s comfort in controlling the puck at the point was obvious.\u00a0That was the only time he seemed into the game though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Defending those plays like it's no big deal. Congratulations to @leijonat<\/a>'s Topi Niemela on being named the #WorldJuniors<\/a> Best Defenceman! \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddee pic.twitter.com\/FYEuBfnWRB<\/a><\/p>— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 6, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>