via NHL.com
Auston Matthews scored two goals — his eighth and ninth of the season — to help the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Detroit Red Wings 5-3 at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday.
“When we work hard, we know our speed and skill are going to make a difference,” Matthews said. “We can’t let up on the effort.”
Matthews scored twice on the power play for the Maple Leafs, who were 2-for-4 with the man-advantage. They have scored seven times in 14 opportunities this season. John Tavares had an NHL career-high four assists.
“We have a lot of guys who can finish, on this team, especially when we are on the power play,” Tavares said. “When I get the puck, I’m just trying to get it to an open player. If that’s [Matthews], it is an automatic goal right now.”
Mitchell Marner and Morgan Rielly each had a goal and an assist for Toronto (4-1-0). Frederik Andersen made 26 saves.
Matthews, who leads the NHL with nine goals, became the third Toronto player to score in the first five games of a season, joining Sweeney Schriner of the 1944-45 Maple Leafs (nine goals in six games), and Corb Denneny of the 1921-22 St. Patricks (seven goals in five games).
John Tavares has achieved a feat last accomplished 101 years ago.
Most points by a player through his first 5 games with @MapleLeafs:
15 - Harry Cameron (1917-18)
12 - Reg Noble (1917-18)
10 - @91Tavares (2018-19)
10 - Corb Denneny (1917-18)#NHLStats pic.twitter.com/dctRe7ubpA— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 12, 2018
For a 2nd straight season, a player has scored 9 goals in his team's first 5 games of a season:
Auston Matthews in 2018-19
Alex Ovechkin in 2017-18The only other time that happened in consecutive seasons was from 1917-18 - 1920-21, the first 4 seasons in NHL history. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/Kq5VR8vM99
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 12, 2018
Morgan Rielly finishes the night with two points (1-1—2), bringing his total to 12 on the season (3-9—12) and moving past Orr on this list. ⬇ #NHLStats https://t.co/eBrtbBPmKf
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 12, 2018
Auston Matthews is the 12th player in NHL history to record multiple points in each of his team's first five games of a season.
The last time that happened was in 2012-13, when @AM34's current teammate Patrick Marleau did so alongside Joe Thornton. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/6LOJafRXhm
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 12, 2018
Leafs motor to third straight win on the road.
Take a look at tonight’s @OntarioLottery Game Winning Numbers from Detroit.#LeafsForever #That649Feeling pic.twitter.com/AU98mQtwZa
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 12, 2018