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TORONTO — This malaise of the Toronto Maple Leafs feels different than any lull Craig Berube endured in his first season as head coach.

The NHL is a hard league, and its schedule can be relentless. Injuries hurt, and new acquisitions need time to find their footing.

Thereâ€s no shame in losing to a decent team, like Toronto did to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

But itâ€s the quest for a full 60-minute effort and the frequency of self-inflicted errors that leave Berube puzzled over the pieces.

“Some of our new guys coming in, finding some chemistry, where they fit, and trying to prove themselves almost a little bit, you know?†Berube said Wednesday, after a tema meeting and a highly optional practice in which the leadership group remained off the ice.

“And then, our whole team in general, in my opinion, is shooting themselves in the foot at different times in the game where thereâ€s no need to do that. Like, we didnâ€t do that stuff last year.â€

The 2024-25 Leafs were superb at holding leads. They thrived in one-goal nail-biters. They locked it down.

The 2025-26 Leafs have more giveaways (130) than any team in the Eastern Conference and the 29th-best power-play in the league (12.5 per cent).

“Itâ€s all mental for me, more than anything,†Berube said. “We got to play to our identity for 60 minutes and understand what we need to do to be successful. Itâ€s just got to keep banging away at it and keep working at it. But sometimes early adversity is OK. I mean, itâ€s all part of it. You go through it throughout the year at times, and weâ€re going through it right now.â€

William Nylander has received nearly 21 minutes†worth of bump-up shifts to Matthews†unit over these first seven games, usually when pressing for a tying goal or in an O-zone faceoff near the end of a period.

The top line has been out-chanced 17-15 and outscored 2-1 when Knies-Matthews-Nylander has hit the ice. Not great. But there have been dangerous moments, and those have been few and far between with lesser right wings in that spot.

Prolonged zone time and second chances are an issue for Torontoâ€s top unit since that groupâ€s puck-carrier and distributor chose Vegas.

“When you want to create offensive zone time, you got to put pucks in with a purpose. You got to then you got to go and get it, and you got to be physical, and you got to be heavy on your sticks,” Berube said of Matthews and Knies. “You got to win those battles to get those pucks back. And they just got to do better job with it. Thatâ€s really the bottom line.â€

To think: The Leafs used to toy with spreading their offensive threats over three lines. Now, theyâ€re considering stacking them onto one.

“I mean, I always want a little balance,†Berube said. “But itâ€s definitely something that Iâ€m thinking about.â€

In the meanwhile, rookie Easton Cowan (scratched Tuesday) should get another top-line trial against the Sabres in a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday. If the team is hesitant to dress the kid against Buffalo, it might as well send him to the AHL so he can touch the puck.

Chris Tanev, who suffered an upper-body injury Tuesday, did not hit the ice Wednesday and is questionable to participate in this weekendâ€s set against Buffalo.

“When he stays down, itâ€s definitely scary, because Iâ€ve never played with a guy as tough as Chris Tanev,†Max Domi said. “Itâ€s not a good feeling as a group when you see a guy like that go down, but he seems to be doing well. And tough as nails. Huge part of our team.â€

Tanev was just one of Torontoâ€s “banged up†players that prevent Berube from delaying a full practice until Thursday.

Next-man-up Philippe Myers conducted partner work with lefty Oliver Ekman-Larsson, suggesting Simon Benoit and Jake McCabe could reunite as a pairing.

Scott Laughton (foot; week to week) has ditched his walking boot and may return to the ice for solo work as early as Thursday.

“Heâ€s trending really well,†Berube said. “Hopefully heâ€s back on the ice with us shortly.â€

As for Joseph Woll, the coach says he hasnâ€t spoken with the goaltender (leave of absence for a personal matter) but assures heâ€s doing fine. Cayden Primeau (1-0-0, .867) is the backup until further notice.

No update on Joseph Woll from Craig Berube ahead of another Maple Leafs back-to-back.

“When he’s back, he’s back.”

Is he skating?

“When he’s back, he’s back.”

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) October 22, 2025

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NEW YORK — Sometimes, the problem that is out of your control presents more difficulties than the one you caused yourself.

In the case of the National Hockey League and the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, news that the arena in Milan may not be ready on time landed with a thud, just as the NHL held its Board of Governors meeting Wednesday in New York.

“We’ve had a concern for the last two years on the progress of the rink — both rinks, but mainly the main one,†said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

Local organizers confirmed to the Associated Press on Wednesday that the primary test event scheduled for December at the 16,000-seat Santagiulia arena — the under-20 world championship from Dec. 8-14 — has been moved to a smaller rink, and that no new test event has been scheduled.

It seems possible at this point that the first hockey game played in the new Olympic arena will be the first game of the Olympic tournament.

“Itâ€s going to be very close to the start of the games, the timeline is very tight. But we knew that,†Milano-Cortina local organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier said recently, according to the AP.

What will the NHL do if the arena isnâ€t ready on time?

“It’s the IOC’s responsibility,†said Bettman, referencing the International Olympic Committee. “We’re invited guests, but they know of our concerns and we’re expecting that they’re going to make good on all the promises to have a facility that is, from a competitive standpoint, first-class.â€

Does the NHL have a contingency plan?

“You’d better talk to the IOC,†directed Bettman. “It’s not our issue.â€

It will become the leagueâ€s issues, however, if the ice presents a safety concern. The NHL and the players†association will not be enamoured with placing the lionâ€s share of their best players at risk for an Olympic committee that can not provide a safe surface on which to play.

“If we have concerns, we’ll express them,†Bettman said on Wednesday in New York. “We are constrained in what we can and can’t do, request and demand, and if it reaches a certain point we’ll have to deal with it. But I’m not speculating, and we’ve been constantly assured by the IOC and the IIHF that it will be ok.

“Obviously the Players’ Association will share our concerns if there are any that are necessary.â€

The U-20 tournament has been moved to the Rho Fiera hockey arena, which was built inside a giant convention centre on Milanâ€s outskirts. That venue will host secondary matches during the games. When complete, the Santagiulia venue will be Italyâ€s largest indoor arena.

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The governors talked about the NHLâ€s international schedule, as part of a meeting that Bettman termed “nuts and bolts,†covering issues like hockey operations, an officiating update, a safety and security update and the topic of facilities standards.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said plans for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey are on schedule.

“We’ve had constructive conversations with the IIHF recently. We would hope that, if anything, we will be done by the end of the month, hopefully,†he said.

Daly said the NHL held workshops in Toronto and Zurich in recent weeks, and garnered much interest from potential host cities.

“We’re expecting 18 bids in in North America, 10 bids in in Europe, and we expect to be in a position to evaluate those bids at the end of this year, beginning of next year, and make decisions in February,†hew said.

Between the Olympics, a pending World Cup and the annual Global Series, the governors are in constant discussion over where the NHL should bring its game to next.

The fact that the gameâ€s best player and the NHLâ€s best European player — Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — have not played a game outside North America in their NHL career seems like something that should be remedied.

“It’s sort of at some point inevitable that that’ll happen,†said Edmonton Oilers President Jeff Jackson. “But nothing’s planned at this point.â€

Asked about that, Bettman had “Nothing Iâ€m prepared to announce.â€

“We’re focused on what we can be doing more outside of North America to continue to grow the game on a worldwide basis,†he said. “That’s becoming an increasing focus and priority for us, because we believe we’re the most international — certainly in our player composition — of the four major sports in North America.â€

No news is good news on the expansion and salary cap fronts.

Bettman claimed expansion was not even discussed on Wednesday, despite stated interest from two groups in Atlanta and bubbling interest for a return to Phoenix.

“There is, and continues to be, interest from lots of places. But none of it has reached the level that we need to focus on at this point,†he said.

Will that door open in time for the next meetings in December?

“It’s not a door that we open. If somebody knocks on the door, we’ll peek around to see who’s knocking and then decide what to do with it,†he said.

On the salary cap, Bettman would not stray from previously announced numbers of an increase to $104 million for next season, and $113.5 million in 2027-28.

“Thereâ€s no change. It is what weâ€ve already agreed to.â€

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CALGARY — Saturdayâ€s game in Winnipeg was supposed to help crystallize which goalie had the edge in the battle for the Calgary Flames†vacant backup job.

The jury is out on whether it did.

Facing a beefed-up Jets squad, Devin Cooley made 25 saves in a 4-2 loss in Winnipeg. He couldnâ€t be faulted on any of the goals.

All told, Cooley has stopped 51 of 58 shots in a pair of losses.

Ivan Prosvetov has stopped 53 of 58 shots to go 1-1.

With Dustin Wolf slated to start two of the last three pre-season games, you can bet the Flames goalie gurus will be huddled up Monday, trying to figure out who gets the other start — a gig expected to symbolize who has won the job coming out of camp.

Given how close the battle has been, thereâ€s also a chance theyâ€ll instead split the lone game with both goalies†short-term futures on the line.

One goalie will be named to the opening night roster and the other will be put on waivers with an eye on sending them to the Wranglers for further seasoning.Â

Thereâ€s a chance neither would clear waivers, as several teams have expressed interest in Cooley, and a handful of teams were bidding to sign Prosvetov out of the KHL this summer. Â

Both are on one-way contracts, meaning the 28-year-old Cooley will get $775,000 regardless of where he plays, and Prosvetov will get $950,000.

Prosvetov, 26, has the edge in NHL experience (24 games to six), but neither has posted impressive numbers in the bigs.

The Flames have invested a year in building the structure of Cooleyâ€s game, leading him to an AHL all-star nod last season before concussion issues derailed his first campaign with the Wranglers. Prosvetovâ€s game requires similar adjustments, but they feel that with their help, the staff can help the six-foot-five Russian evolve like Cooley and Dan Vladar did. Â

Rory Kerins continues to impress, making the biggest push of any youngster to break through for an opening night roster spot.

“I thought their line was the best line tonight,†said Ryan Huska of Kerins†trio with Adam Klapla and Sam Honzek in Winnipeg.

“Every time they were on the ice, I thought they actually pushed back and controlled the majority of play when they were out there. Rory continues to do a good job, as do his linemates.â€

Kerins picked up an assist on a power-play goal, hit the crossbar in the third period and did a good job driving play on a night in which he faced off regularly against heavyweight middlemen Jonathan Toews and Mark Scheifele.Â

Going 6 for 13 in the faceoff circle isnâ€t bad against those veterans, giving the 23-year-old centre a good lesson in what it will take to eventually be an everyday NHLer.

Kerins†situation is one of the most interesting as the regular season nears, as the sixth-round pick would need to clear waivers before being sent to the minors, which is a risk the Flames may not want to take given how disappointed they were a year ago when another promising young centre, Cole Schwindt, was plucked off waivers by Vegas.

Zayne Parekh scored his first goal of the pre-season when his point shot found its way through traffic and bounced in with Klapka causing confusion in the crease.

“He played a lot of minutes (23:43) and I feel like every game heâ€s played, he continues to get better,†said Huska.

“He seems like heâ€s becoming more and more confident again, which is something we were hoping to see. He brings something to the table we donâ€t really have on the back end, the way he walks the blueline and the way he runs the power play. So, I thought he did a good job tonight.â€

Parekh will start the season with the big club, no question.

Matvei Gridin will be a productive NHLer at some point. And while that day is likely another year away, he impressed Saturday when he deftly banged in a rebound for his first goal of the pre-season.

“I thought he had another strong game as well,†said Huska of the first rounder, who was the QMJHLâ€s rookie of the year.

“Heâ€s a really interesting guy. Heâ€s going to learn the game as he grows older and matures a little bit in regards to the details and structure side of it, but heâ€s a really talented player and you can see that in some of the decisions and the reads he makes. The longer he plays, the better this guy is gonna get.â€

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TORONTO — Last time Anthony Stolarz suited up for a game in this barn, an opponent flew by his crease and delivered a headshot.

On Saturday night, the same thing happened.

When Laval Rocket star Laurent Dauphin drove to the paint and snapped Stolarzâ€s neck back — earning a goalie interference penalty and a stern talking-to from Oliver Ekman-Larsson for his recklessness — Leafs fans gasped.

Stolarz shook off the contact quickly.

“Itâ€s something you kinda get used to,†Stolarz downplayed. “As a goalie, you know how to brace yourself and what to expect. So, heâ€s just driving the net trying to make a hard play. He runs into me, and we get a power play out of it.â€

All good. No need to panic.

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“Itâ€s always a risky play. The whole preseason, youâ€re always worried about something happening to somebody, right?†coach Craig Berube said.

“Yeah, thatâ€s obviously concerning. But he was good. He was fine, and he was moving well tonight in net.â€

With Joseph Woll already sidelined indefinitely, the knock to Torontoâ€s No. 1 goaltender was a reminder of how desperately the Leafs are depending on the big man to stay healthy.

To that end, Stolarz is welcoming a hefty workload in 2025-26.

The career-high 34 games played last season? He aims to raise the bar again.

“First and foremost, you want to play more games than you did last year,†Stolarz said, prior to logging two periods of work in Saturdayâ€s lacklustre 4-2 exhibition loss at home to Montreal.

“Iâ€ve been working with the medical staff, coming in and strengthening my lower body, my upper body, just trying to keep those minor tweaks away.

“I worked a lot this summer with my trainer and my goalie coach as well, just working on things to stay healthy.â€

The 31-year-oldâ€s complicated relationship with availability has factored in his agentâ€s ongoing contract negotiations with the Maple Leafs.

Both sides are hopeful theyâ€ll hammer a deal prior to opening night.

“He calls me probably every two or three days to just give me an update,†Stolarz said. “But I let him take care of it. Heâ€s negotiated thousands of contracts. Iâ€m just focused on getting ready for the start of the season, get a few games in here, and looking forward to that opener.

“Thatâ€s kind of why we give them the big bucks to do that. My job is to focus on playing.â€

A combination of Stolarzâ€s knee injuries and his playing behind a more proven No. 1 have limited his workload in seasons past, but heâ€s hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow American netminders Tim Thomas and Ben Bishop, who became Cup-contending starters late in their careers.

“Itâ€s nice to have guys that you can look up to, guys that may peak later and can offer inspiration for guys who have similar trajectories as me,†Stolarz said.

“Whether you get hurt or whether you just havenâ€t been put in the right opportunity, you just keep working and good things will happen.â€

What will the world learn about the enigma wrapped in designer that is William Nylander now that he has launched his own YouTube channel?

“I donâ€t really know,†Rielly said, wryly. “I donâ€t think a whole lot, but weâ€ll see.â€

Well, we watched Episode 1, “Summer in Sweden,†which dropped Friday night.

And weâ€re not certain we learned a whole lot, but the 10-minute highlight reel does give diehards (28,500 subscribers and counting) a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the superstarâ€s off-ice life — and his expensive wardrobe.

“I just thought it would be a fun thing to do and give fans an insight to my life away from the rink,†explained Nylander, who is also featured in both season of Prime Videoâ€s FaceOff: Inside the NHL. “Hopefully some fun stuff in there.â€

Nylanderâ€s documentary endeavour, produced with help from his family, has been subject to dressing-room chatter.

“I heard rumblings,†Stolarz said. “I guess Iâ€ll have to hop on YouTube and take a peek at that and see what Willyâ€s been up to.â€

Stolarz might need that new contract to afford what Willyâ€s been up to.

First stop the Hall, next stop the NHL

Easton Cowan has yet to make the NHL (although that is starting to feel imminent), and heâ€s already in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Leafs†top prospect didnâ€t know that his game-worn sweater from the London Knights Memorial Cup championship is on display downtown as part of the Hallâ€s “Road to the Top†showcase.

“One of my buddies was in Toronto and sent me a picture,†Cowan smiled. “I was like, ‘Oh, thatâ€s pretty cool. Iâ€ll take it.†â€

Cowan popped in to see the display this week.

“Definitely special to see,†the Memorial Cup MVP said. “Just brought back a lot of memories I had in London.â€

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TORONTO — Tuesday night marked the Toronto Maple Leafs†first hockey game at Scotiabank Arena since they were booed off their own ice in Game 7.

A sneak preview of hockey night in Toronto sans Mitch Marner.

And although the result — a 3-2 exhibition overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators — was a smidge less significant than the last time the team performed in this arena, weâ€ll be observing all these contests with a question in mind.

Can a new top-six winger emerge from the ranks? (Matias Maccelli, you get first crack.) Or will Brad Treliving need to go fetch one?

Itâ€s a void the general manager tried filling in free agency and via a quiet summer trade market.

“Itâ€s not been from a lack of trying,†Treliving said. “Thereâ€s just not a lot of them out there that everybodyâ€s willing to hand over to you, right? So, I think today is no different than yesterday and the day before. Itâ€s going to be tomorrow. Youâ€re always looking to try to improve your team.â€

The worst-kept secret leading up to July 1 was that veteran two-way game-breaker Brad Marchand may very well have signed with the Maple Leafs, his favourite boyhood team, had the Florida Panthers not made the money work.

Leafs D-man Brandon Carlo, a former teammate of Marchandâ€s in Boston, told Sportsnet.ca that he tried nudging his friend “a bunch†to sign north.

“I had talked to him, and there had been conversations there, and I felt like he definitely had that interest to come here. Ultimately, it didnâ€t end up that way. But that would have been fantastic,†Carlo said. “Now weâ€re just gonna have to compete against him and hopefully beat him here soon.â€

Carlo wasnâ€t surprised in the least that Marchand celebrated his second Stanley Cup more fiercely than the first. Judging by the photographic evidence, at least.

“I knew it would be that way, for sure. I know that he had a conversation with Bergy (Patrice Bergeron) that if they ever won again, they would go all out with the partying. So, I’m glad he had a lot of fun. It’s a reset now — and hopefully we can emulate some of those videos on our own this year.â€

Establishing another top-six producer would go a long way toward that goal.

Matthews puts moratorium on Marner queries

When a reporter asked Matthews over the weekend how his pre-game ritual might change now that his warmup buddy of nine years was gone, the captain glanced at his watch.

“You got two more weeks and then weâ€re done with these questions,†Matthews replied.

Maccelli may be a shifty, pass-first wingman. But, beyond his initials, no one is confusing him for Marner 2.0.

And projected first-line winger Max Domi had his camp set back by a lower-body injury.

The onus will fall on a healthy and determined Matthews to drive Line 1, likely with less give-and-go and more puck carrying on his own.

“I see him more engaged,†coach Craig Berube observes. “Heâ€s feeling good, so heâ€s more engaged and heavier and harder on pucks and things like that. You can see a little bit of a difference, for sure.â€

Matthews†O-zone starts fell to a career-low 53.9 per cent last season. Expect a jump in that department. And expect his offence to look different. More direct.

That said, Matthews†strike Tuesday did come off a nifty give-and-go with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Maccelli did register a pair of secondary assists.

“Auston might take another step and start hanging onto pucks and beating people himself one-on-one,†Berube said. “Defensively, itâ€s about finding the guy that can fill the role, too. With Mitch on that line, he was a good defensive player, and so itâ€s just going to take some time. Weâ€ll see where it ends up.â€

Whatâ€s old feels new again for Dakota Joshua, whose first two NHL seasons were preceded by Berube training camps in St. Louis.

The coach hasnâ€t changed much in how he preps his players for the 82-game grind.

“It feels hard. Feels hard again,†the power forward says. “Just competing and just making sure that youâ€re going at one each other hard. Thatâ€s what he wants to see. Thatâ€s been consistent.â€

From Day One, the Maple Leafs have made small-area, close-contact battle drills a staple. Clearing pucks and winning the walls, boxing out and gaining net-front position are of priority in the coachâ€s mind.

A couple players have already suffered minor tweaks (Nicolas Roy, Simon Benoit), but Berube loves the internal intensity.

“You gotta be smart. We don’t want to be putting our guys into the boards from behind. But at the same time, itâ€s important to get those battles in training camp,†Berube explains.

“They skate a lot throughout the summer and in August with the team, but theyâ€re not really doing those types of things. And itâ€s hard to just jump in there and do them.

“Those are the things you got to work on in training camp so theyâ€re ready to go.â€

One-Timers: Matthew Knies missed about half a period in Tuesdayâ€s tilt after getting tripped up on rush, but did return to the game…. Dennis Hildeby posted a 23-save clean sheet in two periods of work. A fine start to what just became a more important camp for the goaltender…. Easton Cowan continues to impress. “He has abilities out there, with making plays and things like that — which he showed me tonight — but they were the right plays at the right time, which is important,†Berube said post-game…. Bobby McMann found the back of the net for the first time since March 25. Canâ€t hurt his confidence.

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OTTAWA — Hockey’s back. Finally.

Even though the Battle of Ontario on Sunday really resembled a matchup between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Marlies, we can certainly grab insights from the Maple Leafs’ 4-3 win.

Here are some of the key developments from Ottawa’s side after a game against a Leafs team without many of its key players:

Claude Giroux could play right wing on Ottawa’s first line

Senators coach Travis Green would tell you not to read anything into his line combinations just yet. They might not mean everything, but they are something. Last season, the combination of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Giroux played more than any other forward line and posted excellent analytics, including a 60 per-cent shot share. Playing vastly inferior competition on Sunday, they were dominant, outshooting Toronto 4-0 at five-on-five according to Natural Stat Trick, with a 73-per-cent shot share and an outrageous 97.46 expected goals percentage.

“Those guys have played a lot of hockey together,†said Green. “They had a lot of time in the other zone, too. Timmy could have, it felt like, four or five goals tonight. Brady had a few whacks around the net, Giroux was good.â€

Stutzle killing penalties

Watch out for the penalty kill. In their first pre-season game, the Sens had a similar diamond zonal formation as they employed last season. The Senators struggled last season with the 19th-ranked penalty kill at 77.7 per cent — although a nice wrinkle Sunday was seeing Stutzle on the penalty kill. Stutzleâ€s compete level and skating ability could allow him to become an elite killer, much as Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews have been for Toronto. Itâ€s where the NHL is going and Ottawa should do the same with its star forward.

“Want to give him a chance at it,†said Green. “Obviously, adds some offence, and heâ€s got really good hockey sense and quickness.â€

Green said he believes Stutzle can be a penalty killer, and so do we.

If the Senators want to be better than last season, they will need Linus Ullmark to be the Vezina-calibre goaltender he was with the Bruins in 2022-23.

Ahead of the game, Ullmark said he was not satisfied with his camp so far.

“I thought it was a pretty terrible showing today,†said Ullmark about his play in camp earlier this week. “Sometimes you’re the best one out there and sometimes you’re not.”

Unfortunately in Sundayâ€s game, Ullmark allowed three goals on eight shots in the first period and was pulled afterward. Green said the plan was always for Ullmark to play only the first period. Ullmark didnâ€t join his teammates on the bench after that, explaining later that it was the “higher-ups†who made that decision.

He said it was better to get the bad starts “over with†rather than carry them into the regular season.

“It’s hard to make an assessment when you only do one period,†said Ullmark. “Because at the end of the day if I play three periods, and if I got 20 more shots and saved them it could have been pretty. So, I don’t take too much out of playing just one period.â€

Itâ€s too early to assess, as Ullmark said, but the hope for Sens fans is that Sunday was a bump in the road and not a trend.

Ridly Greig, a natural centre who played left wing almost all of last season, shifted to centre for his first pre-season game. Greig had a promising start, scoring a goal and adding an assist.

“Yeah, I’m comfortable with both now,†said Greig. “Whatever Green wants me to do, I’m happy to do it.â€

Greig looked good at left wing in the second half of last season, scoring 22 points in his final 42 games.

If Ottawa has injuries or regression in play from any of its top three centres, donâ€t be surprised if Green gives Greig more ice-time down the middle, especially if the latter’s offence starts to pop.

Olle Lycksell and Arthur Kaliyev had strong games, each tallying a goal.

“I thought they were both pretty solid tonight,†said Green. “Little bit of different players, because one guy (Lycksell) is more of a darter and skater. Kaliyev is a bigger body and bigger shot.â€

For the past couple years, Lycksell was a “tweener” with the Philadelphia Flyers organization, a player with great AHL numbers that havenâ€t translated to NHL success. Meanwhile, Kaliyev battled injury while with the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers. The former first-round pick is hoping to rejuvenate his career in Ottawa, where his old junior GM Steve Staios now presides. Â

“He’s going to have beat someone out of a job,†said Green. “He’s got to be good in his own zone. He’s going to be able to hunt pucks. He’s got to be reliable.â€

Both players have stood out early and will be vying to crack the Senators’ opening-night roster or be the first call-ups from Belleville.

• Brady Tkachuk arrived an hour before Sundayâ€s fan fest and signed or took selfies with every single fan. There is a reason why he is beloved in Ottawa.

• Tyler Kleven left in the third period after a collision. His coach did not have an update after the game.

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