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The Toronto Maple Leafs once again relied on their ability to score in bunches, as they scored four first period goals on their way to a 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday.
The Leafs had only five shots in the opening period, but goals by Nazem Kadri, Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews chased Detroit starter Jimmy Howard and Connor Brown’s eventual game winner beat Petr Mrazek.
Detroit took advantage of Toronto sitting back in the middle frame, as Tomas Tatar and Jonathan Ericsson narrowed the lead to 4-3, but Morgan Rielly scored on the power play later in the second to quell the Red Wings comeback attempt.
Curtis McElhinney was shaky early on, as he was completely out of position on Henrik Zetterberg’s first period wraparound goal and kicked out a big rebound on Tatar’s tally, but settled down and made 30 saves in his first start of the season.
“I thought [McElhinney] had a real solid effort for us. We weren't very good early.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “We had five bees around their net in the first and they had 14 around our net. He had to be good early.”
With the win, the Leafs move to 6-1 and into top spot of the NHL standings with 12 points. Their next game is in Ottawa on Saturday, as they meet the provincial rival Senators for the first time.
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With the Maple Leafs off to a hot start, any thought of making a trade gets moved to the back burner, but GM Lou Lamoriello said on Thursday that he stays in touch with other teams throughout the season to make sure he stays attuned to the market and what others are looking for.
“You have constantly just get a feel of what’s going on throughout the league, each team and primarily your own.” Lamoriello said on Sportsnet’s Hockey Central. “It’s always timing, but you have to be aware of the situation each team might be in.”
Toronto has significant depth at forward on the roster and young prospects in the American Hockey League, which gives them the ability to make a move if a team has a need for goal scoring and depth on defense.
“There is never a bad time or never a good time (to make a trade), it depends on the needs.” Lamoriello said. “It still takes two people to do things and it depends on the needs at both ends.”
Clubs such as Carolina and Anaheim (both with just 12 goals so far) could be looking for scoring help, but most teams will not start to look elsewhere to address their needs externally until after American Thanksgiving.
If that is the case, the Leafs and Lamoriello will be ready if someone comes calling.
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The Maple Leafs host the LA Kings next Monday and may see a former teammate in their lineup. Forward Jeff Carter suffered a cut to his left leg in a 5-1 win over Montreal on Wednesday and will have surgery to repair the injury.
In response, the Kings have signed veteran forward Brooks Laich to a one-year deal. The former Leaf played 27 games for the AHL Toronto Marlies last season and played with Los Angeles on a professional tryout contract during the pre-season.
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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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