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The scoring train keeps on chugging in win over Wings

October 12, 2018, 6:07 PM ET [115 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesar’s Arena on Thursday was again on the strength of their offensive firepower, but again showed their troubling tendency of not preserving leads and being able to pull away from clubs that they should easily beat.

Auston Matthews increased his league-leading goal total to nine with a pair of power play tallies, John Tavares registered four assists, and Morgan Rielly and Mitch Marner added a goal and assist.

“I thought through two periods our team played really well. We didn't give up much, we had the puck lots (and) I thought we played real well.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the game. “I didn't like our third as much. We didn't take care of the puck as good, didn't keep our foot on the gas quite as good. It's a big win for us here tonight any way you look at it.”



After limiting the Wings to 11 shots in the first 40 minutes, the Leafs sat back trying to defend a 3-1 lead in the third period, but allowed 18 third period shots.

Detroit defenseman Nick Jensen scored his second goal of the game as the Toronto defense was caught slumbering after Frederik Andersen made two saves, Matthews reestablished the two goal lead with his ninth goal of the season. The Wings climbed to within one on Dylan Larkin’s goal before Ron Hainsey iced the game late in regulation on an empty netter.

It was not a strong night for the usual suspects on defense. Martin Marincin played just over 14 minutes and was on the ice for two of the three Wings goals; an errant pinch at the blueline that led to a four-on-one break and Jensen’s opening goal in the first, and left Tyler Bertuzzi uncovered in front of the net on Larkin’s third period tally.



“It's about winning each and every night and it doesn't really matter on our team who does the scoring, as long as we score enough to find a way to win.” Babcock said. “Whether it's been John [Tavares] or [Auston Matthews] or Mitch [Marner] or any of those guys, they know what they're here for and it's an exciting time for our team, but we've got to get a lot better.”

This likely means that Babcock will continue his blueline rotation in Washington on Saturday. The Leafs were given the day off after their third straight road win, but either Justin Holl or Igor Ozhiganov will likely take the place of Marincin against the Stanley Cup champ Capitals.

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