Overview
- Toronto dropped a 3-2 home game to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday and now sits 1-2-0, with Kirill Marchenko scoring his first goal but later taking a high-sticking penalty that led to the game-winner.
- Jim Hiller held his top two forward combinations together at Monday practice, keeping Auston Matthews with Marchenko and Jack Roslovic and Gavin McKenna with John Tavares and William Nylander.
- Rookie Gavin McKenna remains in a top-six role but is still searching for his first NHL point through three games while teammates and coaches publicly urged patience with his adjustment.
- Special teams have been mixed: the power play is 2-for-11 (about 18.2 percent) while the penalty kill has started strongly, and coaches said practice work will focus on sustaining offensive-zone time.
- The coming road swing to Vegas then Denver is flagged as the next clear test for the line chemistry and may prompt in-game tweaks if results do not improve.