Maple Leafs' MacIntyre shows flashes of brilliance in pre-season vs. Flyers

TORONTO - Jonathan Bernier had the spotlight, but Drew MacIntyre was the goaltender who got Toronto Maple Leafs fans buzzing.

The journeyman managed to infuse some energy into Air Canada Centre during an otherwise listless pre-season opener against Philadelphia, making a handful of notable saves. MacIntyre made 13 in his half of Monday night's game, won by the Flyers 3-2 in a seven-round shootout.

MacIntyre, 30, has appeared in a grand total of four regular-season NHL games, most recently Nov. 25, 2011 for the Buffalo Sabres, and he doesn't have a victory. And the Leafs aren't planning to rely on him much, if at all, this season.

But against the Flyers MacIntyre showed glimpses of why he isn't a bad option to have as a third goaltender in the system in case Bernier or James Reimer gets injured.

MacIntyre made an impressive pad save on a two-on-one shot by Philadelphia's top prospect, Scott Laughton, and stoned Marcel Noebels to fire up the crowd. Later, he challenged Adam Hall on a semi-breakaway to keep the puck out of the net.

Those stops paled in comparison to one MacIntyre made for the AHL's Toronto Marlies last season, which was shown on the video board during the second period. MacIntyre reached his glove hand behind his back to snare Rochester Americans forward Zemgus Girgensons' shot.

MacIntyre could provide some veteran stability on a Marlies team that will be young and inexperienced. When his defence broke down Monday night, he got a preview of some mistakes of youth that are bound to creep up.

Bernier, making his first appearance in a Leafs jersey since being acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings in June, allowed one goal on 16 shots. Ex-Toronto defenceman Luke Schenn scored on him after his shot hit Mark Fraser and deflected in.

The player the Leafs got from the Flyers for Schenn, James van Riemsdyk, also scored Monday night. Tye McGinn scored the shootout winner.

In the first period, Jamie Devane tried to fight former Leafs enforcer Jay Rosehill, before linesmen kept them apart. David Clarkson, also playing his first game in a Leafs jersey, managed to drop the gloves with Flyers defenceman Niklas Grossmann.

Leafs star Phil Kessel lost his cool a couple of times, once slashing Schenn on the shins twice to earn a penalty. Later, Kessel got into it with Ben Holmstrom and took an extra penalty for slashing.