TORONTO — Craig Berube is seeing it.

“More energy and life. It feels like he’s got a lot more jump in his game,” the Maple Leafs head coach said.

Matthew Knies is seeing it, too.

“I feel like you guys ask me this all the time,” the Leafs forward said of questions about his linemate, Auston Matthews, “but it’s no shock. He can score a lot.”

The Maple Leafs are seeing what the rest of the hockey world is seeing over the last three games, including a dominant showing in a 5-3 Leafs win over the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday: After an injury-plagued 2024-25 season and an up-and-down start to this season, the Matthews who can dominate games on his own and hang with the world’s best players might finally be back. He has goals in three straight games, all of which ended as Leafs wins.

“It feels like it,” Matthews said, when asked whether he’s found a rhythm in his game again. “The last week or so, I like where my game’s been at. I’m getting good opportunities, good chances throughout these games. I just want to keep that going and play well defensively and be responsible.”

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Leafs fans have held their collective breath this season over whether that rhythm would be felt again.

Matthews’ health, combined with his ability to get back to his Rocket Richard Trophy-worthy ways, was the most pressing question hanging over the Leafs to start this season. With the loss of one of the NHL’s pre-eminent offensive players in Mitch Marner, it felt like the Leafs might go only as far as Matthews would take them. (Though William Nylander producing like one of the NHL’s best players certainly helps matters.)

And through the first handful of games, it’s been a case of “Is he back, or isn’t he?” There have been games where Matthews has gotten his otherworldly shot off quickly and effectively. Those games are very quickly followed by games that see Matthews looking like he’s still skating through pain.

What was most impressive for Matthews through Wednesday’s win was that, after scoring in back-to-back games, there was once again no let-up in his game. Mammoth goalie Vitek Vanecek had no chance of getting a piece of Matthews’ slap shot, his eighth goal of the season. Nor did the Mammoth defenders stand much of a chance keeping the puck away from Matthews in the offensive zone: His ability to move from stealing pucks to sending pucks to teammates was convincing.

Matthews is now on pace for 47 goals this season. Sniffing 50 goals didn’t seem possible early in the season, when Matthews looked like he was labouring at times.

But the slap shot that found that top corner and gave the Leafs a second-period lead was more evidence that things are turning for the better for Matthews. Through the last three games, questions about how effective Matthews can be, and whether he’s, you know, really back, don’t feel as valid. In wins over the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and now the Mammoth (all of whom are in or near the playoff picture), Matthews’ game has not dipped as it did at times in October.

With that — coupled with a respectable performance from the Leafs — it feels like things could be turning for his team.

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Matthews’ three-game goal streak comes amid the Leafs’ first three-game winning streak of the season.

It’s not just the recent abundance of goals that makes Matthews look like his old self.

When he’s dominating his shifts with energy, his teammates seem to follow. Matthews is stripping pucks with authority and regularity. His movement in the offensive zone appears smoother, as if he might finally be moving free of any lingering pain. There’s more force and power in his passing. He’s killing penalties effectively and with more pronounced effort. Those efforts drew applause from the crowd during Monday’s comeback win against the Penguins. Matthews also looks like a beast in the faceoff dot: He won a ridiculous 13 of 18 draws against the Mammoth. He’s now up to a 59.8 faceoff win percentage on the season, the highest of his career.

You don’t get to that kind of number with any lingering pain.

And after a season in which he appeared to be learning the ropes of how to captain an NHL team, more glimpses are emerging of Matthews looking and acting like a more self-assured leader. He’s quicker to crack a joke in front of the cameras as of late. That would suggest he’s at ease mentally with his game and his position as captain. Matthews certainly seems better equipped than ever to understand that he has to take this team to the next level.

The consistency that he’s shown might be one of the missing pieces to the Leafs’ early season.

Add it up, and more of this Matthews feels like the quickest path to more wins like Wednesday’s, undoubtedly one of the Leafs’ best performances of the early season. Goals from five different scorers (Matthews, Nylander, Knies, John Tavares and Matias Maccelli) punctuated the kind of consistent offensive zone time the Leafs haven’t enjoyed much this season. There was a jump in their game and precision with their puck movement where it mattered.

Again, there’s been just as much jump in Matthews’ play over the past three games. And, again, maybe it’s not a coincidence. Playing with Knies and Nylander has undoubtedly helped Matthews’ recent ascent.

But now, there’s less doubt that Matthews will be able to stay where he finds himself: back among the world’s best.

“Just his overall play,” Knies said of what’s impressed him about Matthews’ play over the last three games. “I think he’s playing really good defensively, I think he’s doing good on draws. I think he’s making simple little plays that are really good. And then obviously he’s getting the puck in the back of the net. That’s what we need from him.”