Watch Highlights Auston Matthews shines as Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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GAME SUMMARY         |           EVENT SUMMARY        |           FACEOFF SUMMARY

ON THE SCORESHEET

–       Morgan Rielly put the Maple Leafs on the board at 15:48 of the first period and later registered the primary assist on Auston Matthews’ second period goal. Rielly has assists (9) and points (3-9-12) in five consecutive games. With 12 points, Rielly passed Bobby Orr (2-9-11; 1973-74) for the second-most points ever by a defenceman through his team’s first five games of the season, trailing only Harry Cameron of the Toronto Arenas (9-6-15; 1917-18), per NHL Stats.

–       Mitch Marner registered the primary assist on Rielly’s first period goal and later scored the second Toronto goal of the game at 2:00 of the second period before picking up the secondary assist on Auston Matthews’ third period goal. Marner has multiple points in four consecutive games and has goals (2) in two consecutive games, assists (8) in four consecutive games and points (3-8-11) in four consecutive games.

–       Auston Matthews scored the third Maple Leafs goal of the night on the power play at 7:30 of the second period and later added the fourth Toronto goal of the game on the power play at 11:11 of the third period. Matthews has goals (9) in five consecutive games to open the season. Per NHL Stats, Matthews’ nine goals through five games to begin the season place him in a tie for the most goals recorded through a team’s first five games since the 1943-44 season (Mike Bossy, 1984-85; Mario Lemieux, 1988-89; Patrick Marleau, 2012-13; Alex Ovechkin, 2017-18).

–       Ron Hainsey scored Toronto’s fifth goal of the night into an empty net at 19:39 of the third period. Hainsey has goals (2) and points (2-1-3) in two consecutive games.

–       John Tavares picked up the secondary assist on Morgan Rielly’s first period goal, the secondary assist on Mitch Marner’s second period goal and later added the primary assist on Auston Matthews’ third period goal before recording the primary assist on Ron Hainsey’s empty net goal. With four assists tonight, Tavares established a new single-game career high for assists (Previous: 3 – 11x). He has points (5-3-8) in three consecutive games.

–       Zach Hyman registered the primary assist on Marner’s second period goal. Hyman has assists (4) in four consecutive games.

–       Nazem Kadri had the secondary assist on Matthews’ second period power play goal. Kadri has three assists this season and two power play assists.

–       Nikita Zaitsev recorded the secondary assist on Hainsey’s empty net goal in the third period. Zaitsev’s assist is his first point of the season. He has registered 12 (2 goals, 10 assists) of his 50 career points in the month of October.

–       Frederik Andersen stopped 26 shots to earn the victory.

SHOTS FIRED

–       The Maple Leafs had a 35-29 lead in shots on goal in all situations and a 23-21 edge in shots on goal at 5-on-5.

–       Detroit had a 57-54 lead in shot attempts in all situations and a 44-36 lead in shot attempts at 5-on-5.

–       Morgan Rielly had a team-high five shots on goal.

–       Mitch Marner led the Maple Leafs with seven shot attempts.

SHOTS ON GOAL

SHOT ATTEMPTS

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

–       The Maple Leafs are 3-0-0 on the road this season.

–       Toronto’s all-time record is 289-281-93-3 in 666 games between the clubs and 116-173-46-1 in 336 games in Detroit.

–       Toronto is 2-1-0 against the Eastern Conference this season and 2-1-0 against the Atlantic Division.

MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS

RECORD WHEN…

–          The Maple Leafs were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and 2-for-4 on the power play tonight. Toronto is 2-1-0 when not allowing a power play goal this season and 2-0-0 when scoring multiple power play goals.

–          Toronto is 3-1-0 when their opponent scores the first goal of the game.

–          The Maple Leafs are 3-0-0 when tied after one period and 3-0-0 when leading after two periods.

–          Toronto has a 2-1-0 record when outshooting their opponent.

–          The Maple Leafs are 1-0-0 in Thursday games.

OF NOTE…

–          Toronto’s line of Tyler Ennis, Frederik Gauthier and Josh Leivo did not start a 5-on-5 shift in the offensive zone.

–          Per NHL Stats, Auston Matthews is the 3rd player in Maple Leafs franchise history, and first in 74 years, to score a goal in each of the team’s 1st 5+ games of a season (Sweeney Schriner, 1944-45, 9 goals in 6 GP; Auston Matthews, 2018-19, 8 goals in 5 GP; Corb Denneny, 1921-22, 7 goals in 5 GP)

–          Morgan Rielly was each on the ice for a team-high 17 Toronto shot attempts-for at 5-on-5. Rielly had a team-high 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 65.4 percent (17 for, 8 against).

UPCOMING GAMES:

–       Saturday, October 13, 7:00 p.m., at Washington Capitals (Hockey Night in Canada, TSN 1050)

–       Monday, October 15, 7:30 p.m., vs. Los Angeles Kings (Sportsnet Ontario, FAN 590)

–       Thursday, October 18, 7:00 p.m., vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (TSN4, TSN 1050)

–       Saturday, October 20, 7:00 p.m., vs. St. Louis Blues (Hockey Night in Canada, FAN 590)

–       Wednesday, October 24, 7:00 p.m., vs. Winnipeg Jets (Sportsnet, FAN 590)

POSTGAME QUOTES:

HEAD COACH MIKE BABCOCK

On tonight’s win:

I thought through two periods our team played really well. We didn’t give up much, we had the puck lots, I thought we played real well. I didn’t like our third as much. We didn’t take care of the puck as good, didn’t keep our foot on the gas quite as good. It’s a big win for us here tonight any way you look at it. We got a couple bonus points tonight — we only need six in our [five-game] segment to make the playoffs so we’ve got a couple extra here tonight, which is good. I think it’s great for all the guys that are doing some scoring right now, it makes you feel good. In the end though, it’s about winning each and every night and it doesn’t really matter on our team who does the scoring as long as we score enough to find a way to win. I think the guys have been real good about that, whether it’s been John [Tavares] or [Auston Matthews] or Mitch [Marner] or any of those guys. They know what they’re here for and it’s an exciting time for our team, but we’ve got to get a lot better.

On if Morgan Rielly’s growth within the team:

It’s a hard league for a D-man. We’ve got good offensive players up front and Morgan can pass and really skate. I think Jake [Gardiner] does a lot of the same. We’re not as deep, we’ve kind of got one power play unit right instead of two. When Willy [Nylander] comes back, we’ll have two. That’ll make a difference then. Obviously, the more scoring you have from the back, the better off you are. I think Dermott, Ozhiganov, guys like that, will round into players that can really move the puck too over time, but it just takes time in the League. Mo has confidence, no one gives it to you, you’ve got to earn it. I think he earned a lot last year and he’s really come on again this year. He feels like every night he goes out there he can do something.

MITCH MARNER (1 GOAL, 1 ASSIST)

On another successful night on the power play:

With the opportunities we have, we have to make sure we’re making the most of them. The last couple games we’ve been doing what we’ve wanted to. Getting the puck moving around quickly and getting to that net and that’s something we’re going to keep doing and keep getting better at. I think that’s what works best for us.

On what stands out with Rielly’s start to the season:

I mean he’s been moving the puck really well. He’s joining the rush when he sees an open opportunity. On the powerplay he controls it all out there, he brings guys into him and can see the ice very well. He makes great plays up there and I think just overall right now he’s playing with high confidence and that’s what we need from him all year.

On his instincts to jump into the play:

Very good. I think we sees a lot of opportunities he thinks he can jump in on and when it’s the other way around he knows he’s got to stay out, he stays out. He’s always been one of our top D-men here and I think he’s really proving it this year.

AUSTON MATTHEWS (2 GOALS)

On if Tavares’ net presence opens up a shooting lane for him on the power play:

Yeah, it does. It’s nice because it gives you two options, to shoot it or throw it back to him. He’s got good hands obviously, strong on his stick. If you get the puck back there to him he’s most likely going to put it in so, either way, you’ve got some options.

On what he’s learned through the first five games:

I think when we work hard our skill really comes out. When we’re skating, and keeping things for the most part simple and taking care of the puck, we’re obviously a fast skilled team and that really brings it out. We’re only five games in and it’s a long season but obviously we want to continue getting better and better each night.

MORGAN RIELLY (1 GOAL, 1 ASSIST)

On what led to his goal:

It was a great pass by Mitch [Marner], a good way to get the team on the board and get the team rolling. It was a big win for us.

On recording more points through his first five games than Bobby Orr in 1973-74:

I’m not going to really talk about that, it’s not that important. I think it’s important that we move on. There’s lots of things going on with this team to be proud of when it comes to wins and when it comes to new players playing really well. The penalty kill was really good. There’s lots of things to talk about, I’m not going to address personal stuff… I just don’t think it’s important, I think it’s more important that we move on and start thinking about playing on Saturday.

On joining Marner on the rush to create his goal:

Mitch is a great player and Mitch has the ability to make plays that lots of people in this League aren’t capable of. We’re lucky to have a player like that. When you put him on a line with Johnny [Tavares], I think they’re two world class players and they really play well with one another.

JOHN TAVARES (4 ASSISTS)

On tonight’s win:

I think overall we played a pretty good game. I think a little bit of human nature there in the third. Trying to be a little too careful in the first 10 minutes and obviously, knowing yourself when you’re down a couple goals, you don’t got much time left, you seem to take a little more chances, you’re a little more aggressive. We obviously weren’t as aggressive as we’d like to be. In saying that, we got a big powerplay goal and had some good shifts and did some good things. Overall, I liked our game. I think early in the season it’s just getting that comfort level, those feels back of getting the lead and locking it down, Keeping the momentum and not allowing them to generate a whole lot. Overall, it was a really good win, lot of good things and still a lot we need to improve on.

On what he’s learned about Morgan Rielly:

I think his ability to be counted on in all situations. Great composure out there. I think everyone knows about his skating ability, but I think when you have that type of ability it’s how you use it. His ability to close time and space and be relied upon defensively and get the puck out when it’s needed or make a good outlet pass to escape pressure and then his instincts offensively when to jump in off the rush like he did on that first goal tonight and when to keep pucks in the offensive zone and when to get them through, finding the open man. All those things are tremendous talents.