It's a good time to be a fan of the Maple Leafs right now. The team is rolling to a 4-1 start, and doesn't it just feel like every player on the team is clicking out of the gate?
There was John Tavares' hat trick in that memorable Game 2, and on Thursday night, Morgan Reilly became the first ever defenceman to record 12 points through the first five games of a season.
You can add Auston Matthews to this list of statistical milestones, as well. With nine goals to begin the season, he ties a star-studded cast of players — teammate Patrick Marleau, as well as Alex Ovechkin, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy — for the NHL record in goals through the first five games of the season.
The Leafs are one of only two teams to have already played five games in the season, so taken in tandem with their hot start, it should come as no surprise that their players are plastered across the scoring leaderboards right now — the top four players in points right now, as well as the top two in goals, are all Leafs.
As you can see, though, they're stacking up well by even historical measures.
You can certainly see why fans are excited! A rising tide lifts all ships, and with so much talent in the roster, everyone's job gets easier as they create chances for each other. Nobody, we think, is suggesting that Reilly is better than Erik Karlsson, but with players like Matthews and Tavares offering support, the point production certainly has been there.
No need to ask Matthews about the play of Tavares, though. He’ll probably just redirect you to one of, oh, the 30 times he’s already answered that question.
