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Toronto sealed a 5-3 victory Wednesday over Utah with goals from their four most noted snipers
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Published Nov 06, 2025 • Last updated 18 hours ago • 3 minute read
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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton (24) celebrates with his team after their win against the Utah Mammoth in NHL hockey action in Toronto, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy KoganArticle content
After getting in their own way much of this season, the Maple Leafs took a collective step forward the past four periods.
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With the come-from-behind win against Pittsburgh and the 5-3 victory Wednesday over Utah, unveiling new lines with goals from their four most noted snipers, they’re on a three-game winning streak.
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Our takeaways from the game against the Mammoth as the Leafs moved within two points of the crowded Atlantic Division lead:
TRIO GRANDES
There was no need for coach Craig Berube to remix his units this time in a search for production or just signs of life.
All had crisp breakouts in tandem with the defence, forechecked their way to scoring chances, defended well, and wore down a team that had played the night before. The one group that didn’t score, Scott Laughton in his return from injury between Max Domi and Steven Lorentz, came close and had seven of Toronto’s 15 hits.
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“Laughty was flying, hitting guys, doing little things,” declared first-line winger Matthew Knies. “He brought a lot of juice in the locker room as well. We’re building a lot of chemistry now.”
Berube liked the bench chatter of the fourth line, which was supposed to be Laughton, Lorentz and Easton Cowan coming out of camp, before Laughton suffered a foot injury.
Based on Wednesday – and it’s just a small sample size – the Leafs with all their veterans fulfilling roles would not have room for Cowan on a full-time basis, despite his encouraging 10-game start with four points. As a rookie who doesn’t require waivers, he was sent to the Marlies earlier in the day and will get some game action there pending further developments.
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WELCOME BACK MAT
When Auston Matthews scored for the third straight game, he pointed straight at passer Matias Maccelli, knowing how big it was for the former Mammoth to help slay his old team. Maccelli wound up with the winning goal on his regular third line with Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua.
Maccelli was given the first chance in October replacing Mitch Marner on Matthews’ right side and while no one expected a Marner-like 100-point season, Maccelli didn’t quite fit there and was even scratched against the Penguins.
“That was motivation,” Maccelli agreed. “This game was a good bounce back.
“I played with most of those guys four years (going back to the Arizona Coyotes) and know them very well. I enjoyed it tonight.”
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Maccelli wasn’t a regular with Utah at times last year and the Leafs gambled a third-round pick that he’d be better off here. But Berube didn’t want to get into Maccelli’s past.
“He’s got talent and playmaking ability, that’s what I’m going off. I would always say (a benching) is more positive than anything. Players are scratched by (many factors), decisions by the coach, (healthy) bodies, different lineups,” Berube said.
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JOHNNY ON THE SPOT
The pre-game ceremony for John Tavares’s 500th NHL goal, with a golden stick presented by the club to him, his wife, three kids and his parents, lifted Tavares to a two-point game. He assisted on William Nylander’s goal and sensed there was going to be opportunity when McMann centred a puck through two Mammoth defenders for Tavares to snap in No. 501.
The evening’s work saw him pass Lanny McDonald for 48th in NHL history in goals and Bernie Nicholls for 62nd in points 1,131. Oh, and his kids loved playing with the engraved stick.
“My daughter (Rae, aged 2) got her first one,” Tavares said. “My boys (Jace and Axton) have one from 1,000 games and 1000 points. She’ll be more excited when I’m with her tomorrow (a team day off).”
When Matthews met the media after the game in a Tavares 500 T-shirt, someone had created 501 with hockey tape.
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“I can’t say enough about him as a person and player,’ said Matthews, who was ceded the captaincy by Tavares last year. “It’s always nice to celebrate people like that.”
Tavares, who already won new fans for taking a hometown discount on his new contract, could get 40 this season – at age 35.
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