Toronto Maple Leafs defeat Ottawa Senators 3-1
Alexander Kerfoot had a goal and an assist while Michael Bunting scored his first for his hometown team as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Saturday night.
Wayne Simmonds had the other goal for Toronto (2-1-0), which got 20 saves from Jack Campbell.
Josh Norris replied for Ottawa (1-1-0). Anton Forsberg, who made 46 stops in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Leafs in the nation's capital, finished with 26 saves.
Attendance at Scotiabank Arena was announced at 18,211 - the second straight home date short of a sellout.
Toronto was forced into an uncomfortable situation behind Campbell with fellow netminder Petr Mrazek (groin) and defenceman Justin Holl (illness) both sidelined Saturday.
Pressed tight to the NHL's salary cap - which remains stagnant at US$81.5-million because of the COVID-19 pandemic's economic fallout - the Leafs didn't have enough room on their books to recall No. 3 option Michael Hutchinson from the minors without sending someone down and playing with 17 skaters.
Faced with that option, the club instead signed University of Toronto goalie Alex Bishop, who played three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, to a one-day amateur tryout to serve as Campbell's backup.
The Leafs got off to sluggish starts in both of their previous games, including a 3-2 home victory over the Montreal Canadiens on opening night. But they were on the front foot early against Ottawa.
Simmonds opened the scoring just 2:12 into the first period after Toronto won an offensive zone faceoff. Rasmus Sandin took a pass from defence partner Travis Dermott and rotated down low before feeding the bruising winger at the top of the crease.
The home side doubled its lead at 8:06 when William Nylander, who has points in all three of the Leafs' games, stole the puck from Ottawa rookie Shane Pinto down low. He fed it in front to Kerfoot, who made no mistake on Forsberg.
Toronto defenceman Morgan Rielly hit the post early in the second before Forsberg robbed John Tavares with a terrific glove save later in the period.
The Leafs then got a 5-on-3 power play for 66 seconds, but the Senators netminder denied Tavares on a one-time effort.
Chances were few and far between for Ottawa, which trailed 53-30 in shot attempts through two periods. But Tim Stutzle nearly made 2-1 on a terrific individual effort only to be thwarted Campbell.
The Senators finally broke through on a late power play when Tyler Ennis won a battle and Drake Batherson found Norris in front.
Batherson appeared to even things up with five seconds left in period on a breakaway that saw his initial shot rebound off Campbell, off the Ottawa forward's leg and in. But Toronto correctly challenged for offside.
Mitch Marner hit one of Forsberg's posts on a break of his own five minutes into the third before Chris Tierney found iron at the other end moments later on a deflected shot.
Bunting finally gave the Leafs some breathing room at 7:57 after taking a pass from Kerfoot on a 2-on-1. The opportunity looked to have evaporated with Ottawa getting numbers back, but the Toronto native stayed with the play and fired home his first in blue and white.
Notes: Leafs defenceman Timothy Liljegren made his season debut with Holl out sick. ... Ottawa hosts the Dallas Stars on Sunday afternoon. ... Toronto welcomes the New York Rangers on Monday. ... Leafs centre Auston Matthews (wrist) remains out following off-season surgery. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Saturday morning he continues to progress, but there's no set date for the return of last season's NHL goal leader to the lineup.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.