2. Stars Playing Like Stars
The Leafs top players have all started out strong, as expected.
Mitch Marner is tied for the team lead with six points in five games, a stat line of three goals, and three assists. John Tavares right there tied with him with three goals and three assists for six points as well. Auston Matthews finally potting home his second of the season going along with three assists for a total of five points in five games, and lastly, William Nylander who is also tied with Matthews for total points with five, as he also has two goals and three assists.
All four stars on the team have been playing hockey this season with urgency to succeed this season and help lead their team further this year than prior seasons. We have seen Sheldon Keefe ride Marner and Matthews through five games as they both rank top in the league on total time on ice, topping north of 23 minutes a night.
Along with the four big guns on the Maple Leafs, they are also getting a lot of contribution from their depth guys as well. They may not be showing up on the score sheet all the time like these four guys but their on-ice performance is something to watch. Guys like Alex Kerfoot, Zach Hyman, and Ilya Mikheyev are absolutely flying out there every night and it really helps give this Toronto Maple Leafs team a jump in their lineup when they need help from their bottom six.