The Maple Leafs defeated the Utah Mammoth 5-3 on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena. Thursday is a day off for the team.
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Is Auston Matthews back in an offensive rhythm?
“It feels like it,” the Leafs centre said after Wednesday’s win. “The last week or so [I] like where my game’s been at, and getting good opportunities, good chances throughout each game and just want to keep that going.”
The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has scored in three straight games making this his longest goal streak of the season.
“More energy and life to him,” said coach Craig Berube when asked what he’s seeing from Matthews of late. “It feels like he’s got a lot more jump in his game.”
Matthews leads the Leafs with eight goals in 14 games. He’s now on pace for 47 goals this season. Matthews scored a career-low 33 goals last season in 67 games while being plagued by an upper-body injury.
The 28-year-old started this year, his first without longtime running mate Mitch Marner, slow in terms of production. Matthews scored five goals in the first 11 games with only one coming in 5-on-5 play.
All three of Matthews’ goals during this current streak have come in 5-on-5 play. The last time he scored a 5-on-5 goal in three straight outings was during the 2023-24 season when he finished with 69 goals.
Matthews is plus-seven in the last three games.
“He’s playing really good defensively,” said linemate Matthew Knies. “He’s doing good on draws. He’s making simple, little plays that are really good. And then, obviously, he’s getting the puck in the back of the net, and that’s what we need from him.”
The Leafs have won all three games during Matthews’ goal streak. Wednesday marked one of the team’s best efforts this season.
“We competed really well,” Matthews said. “It just felt like we had good rhythm, good flow, all four lines. We were playing hard, competing, creating chances, defending well, and good to get that two points.”
Matthews showing ‘a lot more jump’ as goal streak hits three games Auston Matthews scored again on Wednesday, which pushed his goal streak to a season high three games. What is Craig Berube seeing? “More energy and life to him,” the Leafs coach said. “It feels like he’s got a lot more jump in his game.”
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Three different teammates have picked up the primary assist on Matthews’ last three goals. Matias Maccelli set up the one on Wednesday night.
“I saw him wide open in the middle there with the stick up, ready to shoot,” the winger said. “So, I mean, if he’s open there, I better give him the puck and he’ll most likely put it in.”
Maccelli started the season on the Matthews line, but that experiment only lasted two games. He has bounced around the lineup and even found himself in the press box as a healthy scratch on Monday.
“I mean, it adds motivation, obviously,” he said of the benching. “It was a good bounce-back [effort].”
Maccelli had no shortage of motivation on Wednesday as he faced his former team for the first time. He was a frequent healthy scratch down the stretch last season with Utah.
The 25-year-old Finn enjoyed getting some revenge on Wednesday as he scored the game-winning goal in the third period.
“Great team win,” said Maccelli. “Personally, it felt even better doing it against my old team and getting that game-winner too. It feels really good.”
Matthews handed Maccelli the player-of-the-game belt in the dressing room after the game.
“We were giving it to him before the game,” Matthews said with a grin. “So, you know he was going to be ready for this one and he was all over it. Slippery. Made a great pass to me on my goal and just seemed like the puck was falling on him all around.”
It was Maccelli’s first multi-point night with the Leafs.
“He was competitive all over the ice,” Berube observed. “Ended up getting one [goal] and one [assist], but, for me, just watching him, it’s how he competed on pucks all night. I thought he was really good.”
With three goals and four assists in 13 games, Maccelli is now on pace for 44 points. He produced just 18 points last year.
‘Feels really good’: Leafs’ Maccelli nets game winner against old team After being a healthy scratch on Monday, Matias Maccelli returned to the Leafs lineup on Wednesday producing a goal and an assist against his former team. “Great team win,” he said. “Personally, it felt even better doing it against my old team and getting that game-winner too. It feels really good.”
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John Tavares scored his 500th career goal during a lopsided loss in Columbus last week. It was a much different feel on Wednesday night as the 35-year-old centre was honoured in a pre-game ceremony.
“It hit me more today,” Tavares said. “It makes you think about a lot of things … Obviously, the goals [total] is amazing and I’m very proud of it, and a lot of people have obviously contributed to it, but just to be going, I think, since I was a kid to this point and being in the position I’m in, I’m just really grateful and thankful for so many people that have impacted me in such a great way and continue to support me today.”
Tavares, who is only the 49th player to reach 500 goals, was joined by his wife and three young children on the ice for the ceremony.
“Honestly, it gives you chills,” said Knies, who lived with the Tavares when he first arrived in the NHL. “Just hearing he’s just the 49th player to do it, you know, that’s astonishing.”
Tavares received a golden stick from the team in recognition of the accomplishment. He received silver sticks earlier in his career for playing 1,000 games and recording 1,000 points.
“It’s an amazing tradition that the league has with many of the milestones,” said Tavares. “It’s hard to believe. You got to pinch yourself sometimes that, you know, you’ve earned it and you’ve put yourself amongst a few players that obviously impacted the game a lot more than I have. It’s really special to be a part of that.”
Tavares added goal No. 501 in Wednesday’s win.
“That was a big goal, so it meant a lot,” said Matthews. “It’s a huge honour to play with a guy like that who’s accomplished so much in his career … As good of a person as he is a player and a teammate and can’t say enough great things about him and the kind of professional, the kind of person he is and what he brings to our team. So, it’s always fun to celebrate people like that.”
Players wore special shirts that read, ‘Tavare500’ on Wednesday. Matthews’ shirt was updated to read 501 after the game thanks to some white hockey tape.
Tavares reflects on 500 goals: ‘You got to pinch yourself sometimes’ After being honoured for scoring 500 goals, John Tavares reflected on the milestone and what it meant to have his young children in attendance. “It’s hard to believe,” the 35-year-old Leafs centre said. “You got to pinch yourself sometimes that you’ve earned it.”
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Tavares is well known for being laser focused on his craft so forward Scott Laughton raised eyebrows by highlighting the Oakville, Ont. native’s sense of humour on Wednesday morning.
“One of the funniest guys I’ve ever met,” Laughton said. “I don’t know how to describe it, but he makes me laugh a lot. It’s a little bit dry.”
Tavares showed that off after Wednesday’s game when he was asked if his young sons understood the gravity of what he’s accomplished.
“They’re certainly starting to learn a little bit about science, so gravity, I don’t know,” Tavares said with a smile.
Tavares’ kids received little golden sticks in honour of dad’s achievement.
“I was really glad my daughter got her first one,” Tavares said. “The boys obviously were around for 1,000 games, 1,000 points … I don’t know about the milestone per se, but they’re certainly starting to get quite a bit, and it’s been a lot of fun to share with them.”
‘He makes me laugh’: Laughton reveals Tavares is really funny! Tonight, the Maple Leafs will honour John Tavares for his 500th goal. While his Toronto teammates are excited for the event, fellow forward Scott Laughton revealed that away from the mics, the Leafs’ assistant captain is actually a really funny guy, and not as serious as his public persona shows.
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After missing the first 13 games due to a lower-body injury sustained during a pre-season game on Oct. 2, Laughton made his regular season debut on Wednesday.
“He was great,” said Matthews. “I thought that line was really good. He didn’t look like he really missed a beat.”
Laughton played nearly 11 minutes. He slotted in as the fourth-line centre between Max Domi and Steven Lorentz and also took shifts on the penalty kill. Laughton tied for the team lead with three hits.
“Laughty was flying,” Knies said. “Hitting guys, doing the little things, and he brought a lot of juice in the locker room, too.”
“Energy,” Berube said. “I thought him and Lorentz provided a lot of real good energy for us … I liked their energy on the bench, too. A lot of chatter and talk.”
Lorentz played for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury last week in Columbus.
‘Good flow’: Laughton’s return energizes suddenly streaking Leafs After missing the start of the season with a lower-body injury, Scott Laughton returned to the Leafs lineup on Wednesday and made an immediate impression during a win against the Mammoth. “He didn’t look like he really missed a beat,” said captain Auston Matthews.
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In order to activate Laughton off injured reserve the Leafs needed to open up a roster spot and they did so by sending promising rookie winger Easton Cowan down to the American Hockey League.
“I have been happy with Easton,” Berube said. “He wasn’t going to play [Wednesday] but, for me, as a young player, he has shown that he can play in the NHL and be a good player in the NHL.”
Cowan, who scored his first NHL goal on Saturday, is the only extra player the Leafs had on the roster, who didn’t require waivers to be sent to the Toronto Marlies.
“It is just a process with him a little bit,” Berube said. “You’d have to talk to [general manager Brad Treliving] about those situations with that stuff.”
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Defenceman Simon Benoit missed Wednesday’s game due to an illness.
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Lines in Wednesday’s game:
Knies – Matthews – Nylander
Robertson – Tavares – McMann
Joshua – Roy – Maccelli
Domi – Laughton – Lorentz
Rielly – Carlo
Ekman-Larsson – McCabe
Mermis – Myers
Stolarz starts
Primeau