For established veterans on big-ticket contracts, NHL pre-season games amount to a cardio workout with referees. For fans who know we’re still most of seven months away from a playoff game, it’s easy enough to pass them off as meaningless. Heck, the Maple Leafs have five more, including Tuesday in Ottawa, before the regular-season opener in Montreal on Oct. 9.
Opinion | The Maple Leafs’ Max Pacioretty hasn’t felt this nervous in the pre-season in about 15 years. Here’s why
By Mikesportz