Gotta See It: Leafs’ JVR’s mitts are insane

William Nylander scored in his NHL preseason debut and Jonathan Bernier and Antoine Bibeau combined to shut out the Philadelphia Flyers as the Toronto Maple Leafs won 4-0 in preseason action.

At first blush, it would appear James van Riemsdyk’s first 30-goal season was no fluke.

Granted, it’s the just the preseason and blah, blah, blah. But the Toronto Maple Leafs forward scored a damn sonnet of a goal Tuesday night: tight, soft, a thing of beauty.

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Watch as JVR carries the puck within a couple feet of the Philadelphia Flyers net, opens up his blade and lofts the rubber straight up and over the near shoulder of goaltender Steve Mason, who is hugging the post.

Van Riemsdyk now has four goals in seven games (regular season plus preseason) against Philly since the Flyers traded him away in June 2012.

Despite the chemistry he generated with star Phil Kessel last season, JVR was playing on a line centred by Trevor Smith and flanked by Joffrey Lupul ont he opposite side.

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(gif via CBC)

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