Tavares to play in Toronto Maple Leafs season opener
The puck will drop on a new season for the Toronto Maple Leafs and captain John Tavares will be in the line-up for the season opener against original six rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.
"The butterflies never change, no matter how many times you go through it, being Toronto Montreal, there’s nothing like it as well," Tavares said.
Tavares has missed most of training camp with an oblique strain he suffered back on Sept. 27 and was originally given three weeks to recover, but said at practice Tuesday he is ready to go.
“Feeling good, I think tomorrow looks good,” Tavares told reporters at the Ford Performance Centre. "The way I felt in the contact especially with the group here the last couple of days and the intensity of that and the physical nature and how I responded afterwards."
Tavares will play on the second line along with William Nylander and Denis Malgin.
“It gives the team a jolt and a boost, for sure, his talent and what he brings to our team,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said.
The core of the team is returning for the 2022-2023 campaign led by 60-goal scorer Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly and Mitch Marner.
The expectations are high for this squad, the Maple Leafs set a franchise record with 115 points last season, but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the sixth consecutive time.
“Ultimately our goal is to be the best team we can be, improve every day, improve off what we did last year,” Rielly said. “We have high aspirations for this group to ultimately win a championship at some point."
Toronto added two new goalies in the offseason, Matt Murray, who has won two Stanley Cups, and Ilya Samsonov.
Murray, who only allowed two goals in three pre-season games, will start in goal on Wednesday.
"There's definitely a lot [of] excitement for me getting that first game and just looking to get off on the right foot," Murray said.
"He looks confident in there, just poised, obviously he's the guy who has been there before so it's being really impressive to him in practice and games," Matthews said of Murray.
Samsonov is set to start Toronto's home opener Thursday night against his former team, the Washington Capitals.
"He's earned it and at the same time so has Ilya, but in Murray's case he's the guy with more experience and I think it's just natural for me to do it that way," Keefe said. "Both guys have performed well and certainly deserve for the opportunity to have those particular moments."
Toronto added Murray and Samsonov along with center Calle Jarnkrok and right winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
With files from The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
Three people shot to death in tiny South Dakota town; former mayor charged
Three people were shot to death in a small South Dakota town, and a former law officer who once served as the town's mayor is charged in the killings.
Debunking the 'anti-sunscreen' movement: Doctors say TikTok trend is dangerous
Dermatologists are sounding the alarm about misinformation from the anti-sunscreen movement, saying not wearing sunscreen can cause cancer and other problems.
Poilievre Conservatives offer to help Trudeau Liberals pass foreign interference bill
Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party is offering to help Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government pass a piece of legislation aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada.
Ont. university says professor fired over 'unethical' sexual relationships with students
An associate professor at McMaster University has been fired after its board of governors found that he engaged in 'unethical, inappropriate and in some instances exploitative' sexual relationships with students.
Richard Dreyfuss' comments about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity lead venue to apologize
The actor Richard Dreyfuss showed up in a dress at a 'Jaws'-themed event in Massachusetts, where the blockbuster 1975 movie he starred in was shot, and then proceeded to make demeaning remarks about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity.
'Irrefutable evidence': integrity commissioner finds Parole Board member sexually harassed 'several' employees
There is 'irrefutable evidence' a member of the Parole Board of Canada sexually harassed multiple employees, without adequate disciplinary action from management, according to a report by Canada's Public Sector Integrity Commissioner.
'Son of Sam' killer Berkowitz denied parole in 12th attempt
'Son of Sam' killer David Berkowitz, who set New York City on edge with late-night shootings in the 1970s, was denied parole after his twelfth board appearance.