The Toronto Maple Leafs are in first place.
With a win last night against the Winnipeg Jets (beating the most popular pre-season choice to win the Stanley Cup back-to-back) the Toronto Maple Leafs are now tied for first place in the NHL with the Nashville Predators.
Not that anyone wants a trophy with such an awful name, but the Leafs are now on track to win the President’s Trophy (as well as the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division).
Sure, it’s early, but we’ll take it.
Toronto Maple Leafs Team Stats
After beating the Jets last night, the Leafs are 8-3 on the season. All eight of their wins have come in regulation time or overtime. They have not won in a shoot-out this year.
The Leafs are + 7 in goal differential (all situations) so technically if the season were to end today the Predators would outrank them because they have a + 10 goal differential.
The Leafs have a 50.57% possession rating, which is OK but not great. They rank 13th in the NHL and this will improve once William Nylander is reunited with Auston Matthews.
The Leafs have actually been out-shot by ten, while outscoring the opposition by six at 5v5. (Unless noted, all stats 5v5).
One reason for the Leafs positive results despite being out-shot are their scoring chances, of which they have a positive differential of + 23.
The Leafs are averaging 31.86 shots against per 60. That makes them the 11th worst in the NHL, but it is a slight improvement over last season’s 32.85 which was the fourth worst in the NHL.
Toronto Maple Leafs Player Stats
After going seven straight games to start the season with at least two points, Auston Matthews has predictably gone cold. He has no points in his last four games. Obviously when you’re shooting 50% regression catches up to you. (Also he got hurt last night, let’s hope not seriously).
Matthews ten goals ties him with Gabriel Landeskog, David Pastrnak and Philip Forsberg for second in the NHL behind Patrick Kane. Matthews is currently tied for fifth in the NHL scoring race.
To round out the Leafs scoring Leaders: Marner has 15 points, Rielly has 14 and Tavares 13. That is an impressive four players averaging a point-per-game.
Marner’s 11 5v5 points lead the team in that regard.
Tavares leads the team in 5v5 shots. Jake Gardiner leads the team in 5v5 ice-time.
The early season positive stats of Ron Hainsey have dissipated and he is now under 50% CF, while the Leafs leader in this regard (disregarding fourth line players with easy minutes and limited ice-time) is Nazem Kadri with an impressive 53% rating despite often going against other team’s top lines and having limited skill on his wings.
Kadri is a monster and arguably is every bit as valuable to the team as Auston Matthews and John Tavares.
This is has been your stats recap! Remember the Toronto Maple Leafs are in first place, so have a great day!