The Toronto Maple Leafs grabbed their first win of the season in a 4-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. Veteran John Tavares was asked about the contributions of Max Domi and Steven Lorentz during the team’s post-game media availability.
“They’re very good players,” Tavares said. “Over the course of 82 games, you want everyone stepping up and contributing offensively and defensively. Thrilled to see them get on the board.”
Tavares believes the team’s bottom-six scoring early in the game helped everyone feel included. “In general, you’re just trying to approach it day by day. We want everyone contributing, making big plays, and creating opportunities. They certainly brought the energy to start the game, and that was huge.”
On his goal, Tavares gave credit to his teammates for setting up the play. “Max did a good job pushing out, and I just came underneath with speed. He put it in the perfect spot for me, so I had time to get the goalie moving and put it where I wanted.”
However, Tavares admitted that the power play still needs work. “We haven’t executed very well. It’s a long season, and there’s always room to improve, especially on the power play.”
Ex-Panther Steven Lorentz had a phenomenal night
Steven Lorentz had a stellar game, contributing 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 hits, and 2 blocks in the victory. While discussing the player on FromTheBend PuckDrop, Julian Artemi said, “Now this doesn’t come as a surprise to me if you remember what I said about Lorentz’s game in September. He has found his rhythm on the ice and he’s already got skates of fire.”
This was his first regular-season goal with the Leafs, making the moment even sweeter for the hometown player. During the post-game interview, Steven Lorentz opened up his performance.
“It felt great to get that one tonight,” Lorentz said. “Being from here, scoring my first regular-season goal for the Leafs is a special moment. But the best part is getting the win.”
He expressed excitement about his first win with the Leafs and how quickly the team gelled despite several changes during the offseason.
“I think a lot of us have been around the league for a while, so the transition’s been seamless,” Lorentz said. “Even though Sheldon [Keefe] was here for a long time, Chief [Berube] did a great job communicating during the offseason, building relationships, and setting the tone for the atmosphere he wanted. Training camp was great, and we’re all embracing it.”
Forward Bobby McMann was also pleased with how the game turned out. His line’s fast and hard play on the puck made the difference.
“I think our line played fast and hard on pucks. We were smart with it and tried to play in their zone as much as possible. We got a couple of goals because of it,” McMann said.
Sitting out the previous game gave him extra motivation. “I want to contribute and play every game, but that’s just the nature of the business. I was ready when called on today.”
When asked if anything was missing from his training camp, McMann replied, “No real adjustments. Sometimes things don’t go the way you anticipate, but it’s about trusting the process, playing hard, and playing simple.”
McMann also praised his teammate Steven Lorentz, saying, “He’s a great player—big body, good stick, and knows how to make plays. He’s not afraid to get in on the forecheck, which is great.”
Dennis Hildeby becomes 5th Leafs goalie to win debut game
Goaltender Dennis Hildeby, who made his NHL debut in the win, also had a milestone night. He recorded his first career victory with 23 saves on 25 shots, posting a 2.03 goals-against average (GAA) and a .920 save percentage (SV%). With this, Hildeby became the fifth Leafs goaltender in the last 20 years to win his first NHL career game.
“It was a lot of emotions to handle. I just wanted to make it feel like any other game for my performance’s sake, but of course, I tried to enjoy it as much as possible,” Hildeby said.
Hildeby added that he tried to keep his emotions in check by keeping distance from his family in Sweden before the game. “I didn’t want to call them because I knew they’d be pretty emotional. I stuck to texting instead, but I’m sure they stayed up to watch.”
Dennis Hildeby tonight vs. New Jersey:
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) October 11, 2024
• First career W
• 23 saves on 25 shots
• 2.03 GAA
• .920 SV%
He becomes the fifth goalie in the last 20 years for the Leafs to win his first career game!#leafsforever pic.twitter.com/Opl7tno7q1
When asked about nerves and how his first save helped settle him into the game, Hildeby said, “Honestly, I can’t remember the first save right now, but getting to feel the puck early helps a lot. Once you get a few easy ones, you’re very thankful.”
He found out about his start the day before but didn’t dwell on it too much, focusing on performing at his best.
Head coach Craig Berube was pleased with the effort from his squad, especially the bottom six, who scored three goals in the first period.
“We wanted to jump on the forecheck, and all four lines did that well. They played a heavy game, wore the Devils down, and forced turnovers,” Berube explained. “The guys were strong around the net, which is something we emphasize. We talk a lot about winning the net fronts, and that showed tonight.”
However, Berube also emphasized the need to improve the power play. “We’ve got to be better there, no question. But overall, happy to get the win.”
With the first win of the season in the books, the Leafs are focused on maintaining their momentum as they continue their push for a successful campaign.