Ryan O'Reilly had his first blooper as a Leaf caught on camera before his first game even started
It's been a long day for Ryan OReilly. The trade that sent him and Noel Acciari to Toronto didn't break until nearly 11:00PM last night. This morning, O'Reilly and Acciari packed their bags and boarded a flight to Toronto, insistent on joining the team in time to play on Hockey Night in Canada against the Habs tonight. Despite a long day of travel and upheaval, both players made their presence felt in the game with some excellent chances.
Honestly, a day of travel and a lack of familiarity with the team could have been excuses for them to look out of place. O'Reilly did have one moment before puck drop where perhaps the fatigue and jet lag caught up with him. While trying to wet his hair with a bottle of water, the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner mistakenly grabbed a bottle of what appeared to be a Biosteel sports drink. He quickly realized that the red liquid running down his face wasn't what he thought and grabbed another bottle to rinse himself off.
If the first 2 periods of O'Reilly's tenure in Toronto are any indication, the Leafs have made a truly difference-making addition to the team. His line, flanked by Tavares and Marner, were absolutely dominant in the looks they had. Hockey players are superstitious creatures, so if the Leafs win this one, the Biosteel shower may become a new pre-game ritual!
