The Maple Leafs were back in their home rink after more than four months, but the time it took for Denis Malgin to get his first Toronto goal was much longer.
After a pointless eight-game stint in the winter of 2019-20, the winger departed the NHL and took the long road back via his native Swiss League.
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Saturday afternoon’s exhibition opener against the Senators completed his round trip, credited with the 4-1 winner on a nice 2-on-1 feed from William Nylander. It was part of the Leafs’ three-goal second period blitz.
“It was nice to score, to play again,” said Malgin, who had a career-high 21 goals in Zurich last year that helped get a new minimum-wage contract with the Leafs.
It also helped the 5-foot-9 winger has partnered with Swedes Nylander and bottom-six centre candidate Pontus Holmberg so far in camp.
“It’s hard for a guy like him to really pop in (grinding) practices because he’s so highly-skilled,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “He was excellent today. Every time he touched the puck, something good was happening with it. He plays with so much poise. Playing with Willy makes people better.”
That’s why Keefe broke up the top lines to start camp, granting older forwards such as Malgin, Holmberg, Adam Gaudette, Zach Aston-Reese and Nicolas Aube-Kubel time with the top guns to stoke their confidence in a new setting.
Mitch Marner split from Auston Matthews to play Game 1 with John Tavares and left-wing auditioner Gaudette, who showed his physical side.
The matinee match was also big for Fraser Minten, likely headed to the airport afterward to rejoin the junior Kamloops Blazers, after the 18-year-old top pick centred Alex Steeves and veteran Wayne Simmonds.
Minten, who led all Toronto forwards with a plus-4, nearly scored off of his good behind-the-net forecheck.
“Minten has been impressive right from the very first time I met he and his family at the (July) draft, through to this camp,” Keefe said. “We wanted to give him every opportunity today.”
Steeves, a second-year pro who missed last year’s camp with a shoulder injury, worked his way in front to tip a Mark Giordano shot before adding an empty-netter.
Added security for Minten and Steeves was provided by big Wayne Simmonds.
“A joy to play with those two,” Simmonds said. “Minten (Kamloops’ leading scorer) is extremely smart, always on top of the play. He’s always in support of the winger and that’s what you look for in a centre.”
Back at SBA after a Game 7 first-round playoff loss to Tampa Bay, this was the positive start the Leafs needed for seven pre-season games. The early start was in front of 14,532 fans, with many youths admitted for free in a Dairy Farmers Of Ontario promo to mark their new jersey patch deal with the Leafs.
Toronto stormed Ottawa goalie Cam Talbot in a span of 2:14 and hung on as the Sens pushed back on farmhand goalie Dylan Ferguson most of the third period.
Toronto, with 28 shots, began its goal spurt with defenceman Justin Holl moving up to keep play alive, then being let alone to bury a wrist shot. More pressure led to Nylander getting a blueline turnover, racing back with Malgin 2-on-1, waiting until the last second to get it in front.
“I thought we all had a lot of chemistry,” Nylander said.
Steeves’ goal came just before Talbot’s scheduled exit for Kevin Mandolese, while Erik Kallgren departed after two periods for Ferguson.
Marner, who spoke Friday of putting on extra beef in the summer to make him harder to knock off pucks, drew two early penalties, but Toronto’s unfamiliar power-play partners missed both chances and another in the second.
Ottawa was up 1-0 on a nice stretch pass by Max Guenette allowed Tim Stutzle a step on Giordano.
The Sens debuted two big off-season acquisitions up front, Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat.
lhornby@postmedia.com