Niemela finished the weekend with the most points from the Maple Leafs' prospects with five assists.
Maple Leafs Finnish prospects Topi Niemela and Roni Hirvonen came out and were ready to produce in Game 2 of the Prospect Showdown in Montreal on Sunday.
After two assists in the first game against the Canadiens' prospects, Niemela continued his contribution to the score sheet, assisting on three more goals for Toronto during Sunday's matinee affair.
It began early in the first period when Niemela fed his defense partner, Cade Webber, the puck before the 6-foot-7 defender found Hirvonen in front of the net for the tap-in goal to make it 1-0 Toronto.
Webber was strong throughout the weekend, using his large frame to his advantage, and doing a lot of what he did at Boston University: Block shots. The 23-year-old wants to make a stronger impression at Maple Leafs training camp next week.
If he and Niemela begin the season with the Toronto Marlies, that could be an interesting pairing to watch out for as the regular season gets underway.
Hirvonen would get on the board again early in the second period, once more off an assist from his Finnish counterpart Niemela. The defenseman's point shot ricocheted off the boards to Fraser Minten, who poked it to Hirvonen to put in the net.
After Montreal found the back of the net twice against Maple Leafs goaltending prospect Artur Akhtyamov, Toronto would respond with another go-ahead goal. Niemela is again involved, and it's yet another point shot that bounces off the boards to a teammate.
However, this time, it's Toronto's 2024 seventh-round pick Sam McCue batting it out of mid-air and into the net to put the Maple Leafs' prospects up 3-2.
Before the second period concluded, Minten was going for the loose puck in the corner of the Maple Leafs' end. As the forward approached the puck, he was pushed by Canadiens prospect David Reinbacher.
Minten went into the boards awkwardly and favored his left foot as he exited the ice, per Todd Cocker, who was commentating the game from Toronto's side. The forward wouldn't return due to "precautionary reasons," Crocker added at the start of the third period.
After an early Canadiens' goal to begin the final frame — and a couple of strong saves from Maple Leafs goalie prospect Vyacheslav Peksa — Toronto would again score a go-ahead goal.
Free agent invite Marshall Finnie would find Maple Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler for a chance. Finne would hop on Kressler's rebound and bury it to put Toronto up 4-3.
Montreal's Logan Mailloux would score a few minutes later to tie the game at four. However, after Noah Chadwick took a hit up high, Toronto would head to the power play late in the game, and Maple Leafs top prospect Easton Cowan would capitalize.
After Hirvonen and Brandon Lisowsky team up to retrieve the puck from along the boards, they find Cowan at the point. The 19-year-old first-round would walk in and just get the puck over the goal line as the game-winning goal for Toronto.
Cowan finishes the Prospect Showdown with two goals and an assist while playing in all situations — power play, penalty kill, and defending an empty net — for Toronto this weekend.
Minten ended his two days with one goal and two assists. Hirvonen's weekend concludes with two goals. All three of the Maple Leafs' goaltenders are leaving Montreal with something to be happy about as Toronto sweeps the two-game series.
But now, the real fun begins. Toronto's main camp opens next week with the first pre-season game set for Sep. 22 against the Ottawa Senators inside Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs will begin their regular season in Montreal on Oct. 9.
