A trick from a former Maple Leafs captain, Tie Domi’s kid finally gets on the scoreboard and the offence kicks into gear as a whole.
Our takeaways from the Leafs’ 5-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday at Scotiabank Arena:
TAVARES ON TOP
Count on a guy who has consistently scored in his National Hockey League career to put the game away for the Leafs.
That would be John Tavares, whose 14th hat trick in the NHL buried the Sabres, sending the lowly Buffalo group to its 10th loss in a row.
Tavares has 15 goals in 30 games, a pace that would have him arrive at 41 in 82. Is it sustainable? We’ll find out. For now, there’s little quibbling with the kind of hockey Tavares has been playing, and continuing to help lead after Auston Matthews took over as captain.
“I have a lot of belief in my game and what I can do, whether that’s scoring or that’s just making an impact all over the ice,” Tavares said. “My whole life, I have been able to produce offensively, score goals, and I want to continue to do that when those chances present themselves.
“Playing on a team like we have, and the type of players that we have, they make so many good plays and put you in so many good spots. It’s great to get rewarded and help the team in that way.”
There hasn’t been much talk of Tavares’ future, as he can become a free agent next summer. At 34, he’s demonstrating that he still has plenty to provide, and is doing nothing to suggest the Leafs shouldn’t re-sign him.
One factor you can take to the bank on Tavares: His effort.
“He just keeps working, I don’t know what to tell you,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “This guy has a heavy stick, he’s smart, competitive and he works at his game constantly, even at this age. It’s great to see. He’s been excellent for us all year.”
Berube made an intriguing line change during the game, taking William Nylander off the Tavares line and replacing him with Matthew Knies. The trio of Tavares between Knies and Max Pacioretty was dominant. The Leafs outshot the Sabres 8-0 at five-on-five in the six minutes, six seconds the three played together in that situation.
After a day off on Monday, we’ll see at practice on Tuesday whether Berube keeps them together and leaves Nylander with Matthews and Mitch Marner. Berube knows it can work.
DOMI PASSES OFF
Max Domi would hate to say it. And he didn’t.
The forward provided a stock answer when he was asked about scoring his first goal of the season, one that ended a 16-game no-point streak for the 29-year-old.
If it was bothering Domi that he didn’t score in his first 22 games of 2024-25, he was not letting on.
“A win is a win,” Domi said when queried about getting a monkey off his back. “Massive win, coming from behind. It’s not easy against a team like that. Give them credit, they came out flying. So (it) felt good to get back into it. A huge win.”
Yes, the Leafs came back after the Sabres had a pair of two-goal leads. No, it was not that difficult against a fragile Buffalo team that has next-to-no playoff hopes.
Berube was more revealing when we asked about Domi finally putting the puck in the net.
“It feels good (for Domi), trust me,” Berube said. “He’s not happy that he hasn’t produced or scored, and we need him to. We need him to play that style of game that he played tonight. That’s the difference for me, (he was) way more engaged.”
Berube found a great mix of speed and tenacity with his third line, inserting Domi between Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann.
Though the Leafs’ next opponent — the Dallas Stars on the road on Wednesday — will pose a greater challenge, Berube is on to something with the new Domi line. That’s potentially not good for Fraser Minten or Pontus Holmberg, as each was a healthy scratch on Sunday.
As for Domi, like Berube said, he has to keep being as involved as he was on Sunday. With just eight points in 23 games, Domi has more to give.
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OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
Five goals in a game for just the fifth time this season.
More than 40 shots — the Leafs put 41 on Sabres goalie Devon Levi — for only the third time in a game.
The 78 shot attempts that Toronto had in all situations represented its fourth-most in a game.
Given some consternation around the city in the Leafs’ offensive dry spells, take only positives from what the group did versus Buffalo.
“Pucks maybe haven’t been going in as much offensively, but we’re still growing and finding our way with how we’re playing and the identity of the group and things the coaching staff is preaching,” Tavares said. “A lot of good signs, something we want to build on.”
The Leafs have been getting the defensive aspects of Berube’s systems down pat. The talent on the roster is there, we know that, to get the production up to par.
“There are times throughout the season that we’ve probably overpassed (but) these guys are really good players,” Berube said.
“They see things and make plays, and I’m all for it. Our identity is to be direct and predictable, and that goes with scoring too.
“You’re not going to get 40 (shots on goal) every night, but that’s the thought process. The last three games, our attempts have been up, and we hit the net tonight more. That’s the difference, in my opinion.
“It’s that attitude (of) making sure that we’re shooting pucks and not being cute and being direct with everything.”
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