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While Brazeau was excelling under Stan Butler with the Battalion last season, Elynuik was helping the Newfoundland Growlers win the ECHL title and also played in 10 games for the Marlies in March and April.

The big pair spent much of the past three weeks together, whether it was skating or training off the ice.

“We’re a very similar style,” Brazeau said. “We get pucks in low and I don’t think anybody can take it off the cycle from us. It has been good so far.”

On Saturday, Brazeau demonstrated there’s more to his offensive thrust than just banging in pucks from the front of the net while flicking off hapless defenders. Early in the second period, Brazeau took a stretch pass from Elynuik, burst past the Blackhawks defence and beat goalie Nick Kossoff high on the glove side.

“He has a unique ability to score goals,” coach Sheldon Keefe said of Brazeau. “That’s one of the toughest things to find, is a guy who can finish around the net. He has that, and put it in a (physical) package like that, there is a lot of reason there to be intrigued and want to work with and develop a guy like that.

“We’re happy to have him. It’s a good contrast to the rest of the prospect pool. That is good too. I like what we see from him in that sense, but I also like some of our smaller guys, some of the things they are able to do out here. It’s really good. You need them to come in all shapes and sizes and we have a good mix.”

STRENGTH IN GOAL

Considering the Leafs were outshot 35-25, they don’t emerge with a win without the strong play of goaltenders Maksim Zhukov and Zachary Bouthillier.