Kotkaniemi impresses again as Canadiens down Maple Leafs 5-1 in pre-season play
TORONTO — Jesperi Kotkaniemi continues to make life difficult for the Montreal Canadiens — in a good way.
The rookie centre put up another solid performance in his bid to make the team as the Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 in Monday’s pre-season tilt that featured little in the way of established NHL-level talent.
The No. 3 pick at June’s draft had an assist on the Canadiens’ first goal, created a screen on their third and was solid at both ends of the ice, finishing with a plus-3 rating and an even-strength shot differential of 52 per cent at 5 on 5.
No bad for a player that only turned 18 on July 6.