TORONTO — Mitch Marner played a pivotal role in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night, contributing with a goal and an assist. Marner’s strong performance was vital for Toronto, who managed to secure the win despite the absence of their star player, Auston Matthews.
John Tavares also played a significant part in the win, scoring two goals, including an empty-netter in the final minutes of the game, while goaltender Anthony Stolarz made 21 saves to ensure the Leafs held onto the lead. Morgan Rielly added two assists to complete the team’s strong performance.
Marner has been on fire lately, extending his point streak to seven games. During this streak, he has accumulated a goal and 10 assists, proving to be a consistent playmaker for the Maple Leafs.
The Red Wings were able to respond with a goal from their captain, Dylan Larkin, who has been a bright spot for Detroit recently. Larkin’s goal marked his fifth in the last four games, bringing his total to a team-leading nine goals. However, it wasn’t enough to prevent the Red Wings from falling short.
The Maple Leafs were playing without their top scorer, Matthews, who was placed on injured reserve prior to the game due to an upper-body injury. Matthews, who has been a dominant force in the league for several seasons, also missed Toronto’s 4-0 victory over the Boston Bruins earlier in the week. Matthews is expected to be available for the Leafs’ upcoming matchup against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
Before the game, the Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2024 was honored in a ceremony. The inductees included some of hockey’s greats such as Shea Weber, Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick, Natalie Darwitz, and Krissy Wendell, all of whom will be enshrined on Monday. Additionally, David Poile and Colin Campbell will be inducted as builders of the game.
Takeaways
The Maple Leafs have shown that they are more than capable of succeeding without Matthews, improving their all-time record to 37-19-2 in regular-season games in which Matthews has been absent. This performance adds to the team’s confidence, especially after securing two playoff victories against the Boston Bruins last spring without their star forward.
On the Red Wings’ side, Larkin continues to be their standout player. His scoring streak has been impressive, and his leadership is clearly evident as he has carried Detroit’s offense with his consistent contributions.
Key Moment
Tavares’ power-play goal in the second period was a turning point in the game. With the score tied 1-1, Tavares rifled his sixth goal of the season past Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot to give the Leafs a lead they would never relinquish.
Key Stat
The Leafs’ power play has seen a remarkable turnaround. After struggling early in the season with a dismal 3-for-39 success rate, Toronto has scored six goals on their last 10 power-play opportunities. This improvement has been crucial in their recent victories, with Tavares’ game-winning goal coming on the power play.
Up Next
Toronto will continue their four-game homestand on Saturday when they host the Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs will look to build on their current form and extend their winning streak. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings will return home to face the New York Rangers as they aim to bounce back from their defeat.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Nov. 8, 2024.