The Toronto Maple Leafs started 2025 like they ended 2024, with a win over the New York Islanders. On December 31st, the Leafs beat the Islanders 3-1 to end 2024 on New Year's Eve. Then, on Thursday, January 2nd, they followed that up with a 2-1 win over the Islanders.
The Toronto Maple Leafs completed the back-to-back wins with a McMann advantage in Thursday's game. Bobby McMann scored both Leafs goals, including the game-winner on the power play. McMann now has 12 goals in 31 games and is on pace for his most productive season in the NHL.
(All stats from hockey-reference.com)
Although the Leafs have been snake-bitten with injuries this year, they are still first in the Atlantic Division and have a better overall record than they had at this point last season. The Leafs record at New Year's in 2024 was 17-10-7 for 41 points. They began 2025 with a 23-13-2 record for 48 points, and with their win over the Islanders on Thursday, they now have 50 points.
Not only do the Leafs have the best record in their division, but they have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and the sixth-best record in the league. Makes it hard to understand why some continue to paint the team with negativity. Fans wanted the team to be better than last season, and it is. With that said, the playoffs will be the deciding factor. Leafs GM Brad Treliving needs the Leafs to make it to at least the conference finals for fans to believe the team is moving in the right direction.
Core four leading the way
Mitch Marner (13-38-51) leads the Leafs in points with 51, while William Nylander (23-20-43) leads the team in goals with 23. John Tavares (19-19-38) continues his point-per-game pace with 38 points in 38 games, and Auston Matthews (11-12-23) rounds out the top four with 23 points in 27 games. Matthews has been hurt off and on all season.
Secondary scoring is not where it needs to be, but has improved since the beginning of December. In my article dated December 13th, 2024, I wrote about the need for secondary scoring. At the time of that article, Max Domi had yet to score a goal, while Max Pacioretty, Pontus Holmberg, and Nick Robertson had two goals each. David Kampf, Connor Dewar, and Ryan Reaves had no goals.
The goal-scoring has improved for most of those players, but not all. Dewar and Reaves still have yet to score, and Holmberg still has two goals on the season. However, Robertson now has six goals, Pacioretty (5), Domi (3), and Kampf (2) have improved. With the uncertainty of Matthews and his injury issues, secondary scoring will be crucial in the second half of the season.