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The Toronto Maple Leafs have enjoyed early success this season because of contributions from their core group and players lower down in the lineup. The Leafs displayed that winning formula in a 7-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.
Auston Matthews scored a pair to extend his goal scoring streak to six games, Mitch Marner added a goal and two assists, John Tavares scored his fifth of the season, William Nylander had three assists and the Toronto power play tallied for the 10th time in 11 games, but veteran Jason Spezza was the standout with his eighth career hat trick.
“That was fun to watch tonight. That was vintage Jason Spezza. He put on a show. He deserves it. He works so hard every day.” Matthews said after the game. “At this stage in his career, the dedication that he pours into his own game and into the team, it’s pretty incredible. To see a guy like him tonight get rewarded and put on a show like he did, that was pretty incredible”
The 37-year-old beat Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko from long range on first period power play goal, converted on a nice setup from Nic Petan in the middle frame and beat Alex Edler on an impressive individual effort to notch his first hat trick since April 2016.
“I think we've talked about it a lot, but like a night like this, it's a good opportunity to revisit it. With (Jason’s) experience and his voice and his personality, it brings a lot to our room. We feel like we've added a lot to that department. I think having Spezz last season just showed us how valuable that is and we felt we could add to that, and I think we did.” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Just the work that he's put in all through the offseason to get himself ready to play and to push others to be ready and help our younger guys. And I guess another example, at his age and where we're at in the season, he comes and he skates on one of our skill development days this week instead of taking the off day.”
With the victory and the Montreal loss to Ottawa, the Leafs move into first place in the North Division with their eighth win of the season. Toronto played with five defensemen most of the evening after Travis Dermott left the game with a leg injury after a collision with Vancouver’s Tyler Motte.
Keefe after the game indicated that the injury was minor (most likely a charley horse) and not expected to keep Dermott out of the lineup long term, but he was not on the ice at practice on Friday and his availability for Saturday’s rematch with the Canucks is in question.
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