Domi stands up for Robertson after dirty crosscheck from Habs defenseman
One of the most prevalent criticisms of the Kyle Dubas era was that the Leafs didn't do a good enough job of standing up for their teammates. The majority of Treliving's new signings were about bringing more "snot" to the lineup. It may only be pre-season, but it appears as though Treliving's plan is working so far.
During the second period of Monday night's contest between the Leafs and Canadiens, Nick Robertson was battling for position in front of the net with Habs defenseman Arber Xhekaj. The 6'4, 238-pound Xhekaj threw a stiff crosscheck that caught Robertson square in the face, opening up the 22 year old's lip. Seeing that he was bound for the box, Xhekaj threw several more crosschecks at Robertson in the corner before Robertson whirled around and slashed him with a good two-handed whack. It was at this point that the fur began to fly.
Max Domi was the first Leaf to arrive in defence of Robertson, quickly followed by Morgan Rielly. This, along with the goal he scored earlier in the game, is the key reason for Domi being here. Nearly a full head shorter than Xhekaj, Domi went straight after him. Having players willing to jump in and help will only help smaller skilled players like Robertson stand up for themselves without having to take the beating they'd otherwise get. Extra curricular activities continue to be part of the game, having players like Domi who are willing combatants will definitely help the Leafs shed their otherwise soft image.
| POLL | ||
3 OCTOBRE | 625 ANSWERS Domi stands up for Robertson after dirty crosscheck from Habs defenseman Are you surprised Ryan Reaves hasn't dropped the gloves in the pre-season? | ||
| No, wait until it matters | 446 | 71.4 % |
| Nobody has done anything dumb enough | 88 | 14.1 % |
| Yes, what else is he here for? | 67 | 10.7 % |
| Everyone else is too scared to try it | 24 | 3.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
