Maple Leafs report cards: Red-hot power play fuels win over Red Wings

After a horrendous start to the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs power play is officially red hot.

The Leafs scored three power-play goals against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, and they kept the momentum going with a pair of goals against another original six team in the Detroit Red Wings. Mitch Marner opened the scoring on the man advantage in the first, and John Tavares followed suit in the second to give his team a one-goal lead heading into the final frame.

The Leafs did not score or allow a five-on-five goal for the second consecutive game, and Tavares iced it with an empty net goal. This was a defensive battle with few scoring chances at either end, but the Leafs deserve a B+ for picking up a 3-1 win without their captain.

Player grades

Anthony Stolarz – A

He finished with 21 saves on 22 shots, and essentially saved everything that he had a chance to save. His team did well to limit shot quality, but he did manage to earn himself a standing ovation while protecting a one-goal lead with five minutes to go.

Stolarz stoned Andrew Copp on the doorstep with a strong pad save, and as complete chaos ensued in a scramble for the loose puck, he lost his blocker and picked it up with his bare hand.

Stolarz got the puck with his barehand! pic.twitter.com/kIXAikt18y

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 9, 2024

Is there an athlete with a higher approval rating in the city of Toronto right now?

John Tavares – A

Tavares scored Toronto’s second power-play goal by spinning around in the slot and firing a shot past Cam Talbot. He followed up the goal with a beautiful rush at the end of the second, but Talbot was there to prevent him from the highlight of the night. Tavares iced the game with an empty net goal in the final minutes. While most empty net goals aren’t all that impressive, this one was safely in the “above-average” category.

JOHN TAVARES 🚨🚨

Steals the puck off the turnover and sends it into the empty net pic.twitter.com/tfHlepIDLb

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 9, 2024

The third-line wingers (Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson) – A

They were both excellent.

McMann made a wicked no-look pass to set Nick Robertson up for a tap-in two minutes in, but the goal was called back for goaltender interference. McMann was winning battle after battle on the forecheck, and his ability to create offensive zone time stood out in a game that was more of a defensive battle early on.

Robertson drew a penalty that led to a Leafs power-play goal, and later made a nice pass to set up Holmberg for a solid scoring chance in the slot. Their line continued to impress in the third by cycling the puck around, and while they didn’t score, they spent the bulk of their minutes in the offensive zone.

Mitch Marner – A-

Marner opened the scoring halfway through the first to extend his point streak to seven games. He made a gorgeous zone entry to start the play off, before heading to the net to put home a rebound. He then hit the post at the end of the period, and it would have been a thing of beauty, as he knocked the puck out of mid-air with a baseball swing. His line was a bit quiet at even strength, but he made an impact on both special teams.

The shutdown pair (Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev) – A-

Craig Berube must be in love with this duo, as opposing top lines just don’t look like a top line against them. They’re quick enough to effectively deny opposing zone entries, strong enough to win net-front battles, and skilled enough to break the puck out once they have it. The Leafs owned most of the chances when they were on the ice.

Pontus Holmberg – B

His line impressed, but it felt like it was McMann and Robertson who were leading the charge. Still, he looked like a capable defensive centre.

The offensive pair (Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson) – B

They’re counted on to create scoring chances, and they simply didn’t create much offensively. They deserve credit for their strong defensive play, but their one blip came in the second when Rielly gave Ekman-Larsson a tough pass to handle in the defensive zone, and his partner tried to be too cute with it. Tavares took a penalty following the turnover, and Larkin scored on the ensuing power play.

William Nylander – B

Nylander picked up a primary assist on Marner’s first-period goal, as he made a strong play to drive to the net and create a juicy rebound. The play was enough to earn him a “B,” but he was otherwise pretty quiet.

Max Pacioretty – B-

Pacioretty had a close chance in the slot at the end of the first, but he wasn’t able to capitalize. Like most of his teammates, his minutes were quite boring.

The fourth line (Steven Lorentz, David Kämpf and Ryan Reaves) – C+

Absolutely nothing happened during their minutes in the first two periods. Their best shift came when they generated some extended offensive-zone time in the early third, but they were then hemmed in a bit on their next shift.

The third pair (Simon Benoit and Conor Timmins) – C+

Like the fourth line, the Leafs generated little to nothing offensively when they were on. Timmins made a nice play to slide across the ice and block a shot five minutes in, but I expect a little bit more out of him offensively. Benoit hasn’t been on for a Leafs goal in eight games.

Matthew Knies and Max Domi – C

Knies made a couple of flashy plays to show off his skill in the first, but the top line didn’t look nearly as dangerous without Auston Matthews. Domi continues to play boring minutes, which is completely out of character for him. There are usually plenty of chances at both ends when he’s on the ice, but for some reason, he looks like a defensive forward lately.