Leafs vs. Senators Preseason Takeaways

TAVARES TIES GAME WITH FIRST GOAL AS A LEAF
1. Yes, this was a pre-season game (staged in Lucan, Ont., as a matter of fact), but that didn't have any effect on the intensity between the two Ontario rivals as they kicked off the first game of each club's schedule. And the Senators took pride in striking first - just 21 seconds into the contest - on a goal from veteran winger Ryan Dzingel. But less than five minutes later, with Toronto on its first power play of the night, new Leafs centre John Tavares took a pass from winger Mitch Marner deep in the Sens' zone, calmly walked out in front of netminder Mike Condon, and ripped a shot into the net for his first goal as a Leaf.

Tavares showed little emotion after the power play marker tied the game, but over the course of his nine-year NHL career, Tavares has always kept his emotions in check. However, it's always good to remove a potential talking point among fans, and registering his first goal right away is a terrific harbinger of what's to come for both him as an individual, and for Toronto's offensive special team.

GO-AHEAD GOAL BOOSTS BORGMAN'S STOCK IN FIGHT FOR LEAFS' D-MAN JOB
2. Defenceman Andreas Borgman is one of a slew of young blueliners battling to secure a job with the Leafs' defence corps, and the 23-year-old earned points for himself by putting Toronto ahead 2-1 with a goal that came just 1:22 after Tavares scored.
Borgman came over to the Leafs organization from Sweden last season, and, like most players adjusting to the North American game, the 23-year-old had some challenges with his consistency at the NHL level. Nevertheless, Borgman still posted three goals and 14 points in 48 games with the Leafs, and although his robust physical style certainly grabs the eye of many fans, he also has the ability to jump in the rush and unleash a high-impact slap shot on the opposition's net. In this case, though, Borgman made the jump into the middle of the ice as teammate Emerson Clark carried the puck into Ottawa's zone, and Clark's perfect pass back into the midde area was tipped into the net by Borgman to make it 2-1 for Toronto at 6:34.

One goal certainly doesn't lock up an NHL job for any player, but the full spectrum of Borgman's skills were on display on this scoring play. He's got upside yet to be realized, but if he can continue to play smart, disciplined hockey as he did Tuesday, he's got a serious chance to stick with the Leafs.
TAVARES GIVES BUDS BREATHING ROOM WITH THIRD-PERIOD GOAL
3. Following a scoreless second period that saw both teams change goalies midway through the frame - with the Leafs sending veteran Curtis McElhinney to the bench in favour of Marlies cornerstone Garret Sparks - Toronto created some breathing room when Tavares scored his second of the game at 6:06 of the third period.

Tavares was fighting for position near the Senators' net, and was barely up and on his feet when he corralled a loose puck from a rebound off a shot by Leafs blueliner Justin Holl and immediately buried it past goalie Marcus Hogberg. The Leafs had a two-goal lead at the 6:06 mark, Tavares had his second goal of the game, and Leafs Nation no doubt was thrilled to see the team's marquee off-season acquisition performing so well.
McELHINNEY, SPARKS LOOK STELLAR IN BATTLE TO BE ANDERSEN'S BACKUP
Borgman is in a battle to lock up a job on Toronto's blueline, but that's not the only fight for a position on the Leafs this season: Indeed, there are three netminders competing to back up No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen, and both of them looked like solid contenders for the job Tuesday.

McElhinney allowed the only Senators goal, but the veteran turned aside 12 of 13 on the night and proved last year he's capable of stepping in and giving head coach Mike Babcock what he wants: calmness, confidence, and putting his teammates in the mindset they've got a chance to win when he's between the pipes.
Sparks, meanwhile, stopped every Senators shot he saw, and his pedigree is impressive as well: he was named the American League's top netminder last season and led the Marlies to their first Calder Cup championship in franchise history.
Both McElhinney and Sparks need to be extremely focused and limit their mistakes to the best of their ability, and that's certainly what transpired Tuesday. Babcock's job at eventually picking one of the two - or Calvin Pickard, who also played superbly for the Marlies last year - is going to be especially difficult.
MARNER NETS FINAL GOAL - WITH ASSIST FROM TAVARES - TO LOCK UP LEAFS WIN
Winger Mitch Marner assisted on both of Tavares' goals Tuesday, so it didn't come as a surprise when the linemates hooked up again to produce the final goal of the game at 11:48 of the third. Tavares carried the puck into the Sens' corner to the left of Hogberg, and immediately found Marner moving into the zone; a quick Tavares pass to Marner resulted in (a) a slap shot through traffic; and (b) Marner's first goal of the pre-season.
The assist gave Tavares three points on the night, and the goal gave Marner three points. Considering many believe Marner and Tavares are going to be linemates to start the regular season, Tuesday's performance couldn't have gone any better.