Auston Matthews had an assist in his preseason debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday.
The Senators scored all four goals in the third period to win the second game of a split-squad doubleheader. The Maple Leafs won the first game 4-1.
Matthews won the Hart Trophy voted as the NHL most valuable player last season, when he led the League with 60 goals.
Calle Jarnkrok scored twice in his Toronto debut after signing a four-year, $8.4 million contract ($2.1 million average annual value) on July 15. He gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 1:07 of the second period and made it 2-0 at 11:01.
Angus Crookshank, Josh Norris, Mark Kastelic and Tyler Motte scored for the Senators.
Crookshank cut it to 2-1 at 4:49, and Norris scored a power-play goal at 13:42 to tie it 2-2. Norris signed an eight-year, $63.6 million contract ($7.95 AAV) on July 14.
Kastelic gave Ottawa a 3-2 lead at 13:42, and Motte scored into an empty net at 19:40 for the 4-2 final.
Ilya Samsonov did not allow a goal on 16 shots in 39:40 in his Maple Leafs debut. He signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract July 13. Keith Petruzzelli made seven saves in relief.
Anton Forsberg allowed one goal on 14 shots in 30:38, and Mads Sogaard made eight saves in relief for the Senators.
All set for game ✌️ pic.twitter.com/F6u89uioSU
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 24, 2022
Still a fun day full of hockey! 🏒
See everyone Wednesday? pic.twitter.com/OGslr2F13y
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 25, 2022