The barrage of shots was short but accurate as the Toronto Maple Leafs scored four goals off their fist shots on goal Wednesday night in a 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
Nazem Kadri, Zach Hyman, Auston Matthews and Connor Brownstruck for goals in the Leafs’ big first period outburst.
“We can definitely be a lot better, but when we’re coming out with two points in games like these in back-to-backs, our progress coming from last year in these types of games, it’s definitely pretty positive for the group,” Matthews said.
At 6-1-0 on the season, the Leafs have the NHL’s best record.
Curtis McElhinney made 30 saves to get the win in his first start of the season.
Morgan Rielly and William Nylanderalso scored for Toronto.
“It feels really good, the guys are happy,” Rielly said. “We’ve had some hard-fought wins where we’ve really taken some pride in it, but that being said, we’re just getting started here. The season’s only two weeks old, so we have a long way to go. It’s a good feeling to start this way, but it’s a long season.”
Detroit’s goals came from Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Tatar and Jonathan Ericsson.
[WATCH: All Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs highlights]
Jimmy Howard yielded three goals on his first four shots before being given the hook in favor of Petr Mrazek who failed on his first shot on goal.
“There was some kind of funny goals, I don’t know if that was all on (the goalies). I think some of it is where it was just one of those nights where it goes in for them,” Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said. “We did tons of good stuff and had lots of good moments, especially in the first (period) where we carried the play, but it just seemed like everything they threw at the net when in. I can’t say that’s always goaltending, just sometimes that’s how it goes.”
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