Toronto Maple Leafs: Fun With Numbers (The Postponed Game Edition)

TORONTO,ON - JANUARY 22: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 22, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Oilers 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO,ON - JANUARY 22: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 22, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Oilers 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are off tonight, but they are the NHL’s hottest team, having won 18 of their last 21 games, amassing a record of 18-2-1 in the process. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won two in a row, three of four, and have points in four of their last six.

The insane run has seen Auston Matthews emerge as a Hart Trophy front runner, while Jack Campbell should and likely would win the Vezina if the season ended today. On top of that, Campbell would certainly get some Hart Trophy votes, and Morgan Rielly would be an early favorite for the Norris if Cale Makar hadn’t already won it.

The Leafs, more than anything else, are fun.  I don’t think you would have believed me if I told you that six months ago, so let’s keep it going by having some…..

Fun With Numbers!

Note that all the numbers are from Naturalstattrick.com and NHL.com and that when necessary, I limited to just players who have played 250 minutes, which limits things to 467 players.

NHL Points

Alex Ovechkin 46

Toronto Maple Leafs Points

Auston Matthews 33

NHL Goals

Leon Draisaitl 23

Toronto Maple Leafs Goals

Auston Matthews 20

Best Video Game of All-Time

Final Fantasy 7.

Most 5v5 Points

Alex Ovechkin 30

Toronto Maple Leafs Most 5v5 Points

John Tavares 19 (6th in NHL)

Highest 5v5 Points per 60

Nazem Kadri 4.03 P/60

Toronto Maple Leafs 5v5 Points per 60

John Tavares 2.7 P/60

Fun With Numbers Bonus Fact

Only one of the Toronto Maple Leafs “Big Four” is scoring at a first line rate 5v5.

Considering the Leafs lead the NHL in 5v5 expected-goals, this should be concerning for other teams.  It is extremely good news for anyone wondering if the Leafs are “for real,” because there is a very high probability (virtually a guarantee) that by the end of the season, all four of Marner, Matthews, Tavares and Nylander will be scoring at a first line rate.

Most 5v5 Goals

Kyle Conner 14

Toronto Maple Leafs most 5v5 Goals

Auston Matthews 10

Most 5v5 Goals Per 60

Kyle Conner 1.87 G/60

The Best Book I Read in 2021

American Tabloid by James Elroy

Best Corsi for Top Line Player

Patrice Bergeron 64.87%  in over 300 minutes is absolutely ridiculous. This guy doesn’t age.

Expected-Goals Percentage

Patrice Bergeron at 67%  Wow.

Most Scoring Chances Created Per 60 Minutes of 5v5 Ice Time

Auston Matthews

Fun With Numbers Fun Fact:

The NHL Leaders in this category are, in order: Matthews, Bunting, Marner, Duclair, Nylander, Sandin.  So five of the six players whose teams get the most scoring chances when they are on the ice are Leafs.

The Last Movie I Watched

The English Patient. It was one of the worst movies I have ever seen.

Most Dangerous Scoring Chances Created Per Minute

Predictably, it’s Andreas Johnson?

Most Assists

Connor McDavid

 Best Show of 2021

I don’t know, but I do know that I accidently watched 10 minutes of Canadian Roast Battle, and it was the worst thing I have ever seen.

Next. Why Auston Matthews Should be the Hart Favorite. dark

Best Team

The Toronto Maple Leafs. That might seem like a very predictable thing for me to say, but I stand by it!  The game tonight is postponed, so please enjoy whichever alternate activity you choose to engage in!