Head coach:Sheldon Keefe (Fourth season)
Season Stats: Goals per game: 3.36 (9th) | Scoring defense: 2.64 (4th) | PP: 25.0 percent (6th) | PK: 79.8 percent (16th)
The narrative:In case you haven't heard, the Maple Leafs haven't won a playoff series since 2003-04, a stat that dogs hockey's most talked-about franchise. The current group is extremely talented, having made six consecutive postseason appearances, but has been unable to get past some of the top teams in the league in the opening round in that time frame. Given the overwhelming media pressure in Canada's biggest city, anything short of winning a postseason round will be viewed as a disappointment, but that's a conversation for down the road.
2022-23 leaders:You likely know the names at this point, and Toronto's big four -- a quartet of forwards who take up nearly half of the Maple Leafs' salary cap -- have led the way yet again. Mitchell Marner tops the squad with a 19-43-62 line that puts him tied for seventh in the league in assists and tied for 11th in points, while William Nylander is right behind with 28 goals and 31 assists for 59 points. Auston Matthews won't hit 60 goals like he did last year but has a 28-25-53 line, and captain John Tavares has 23 goals and 30 assists.
In net, Ilya Samsonov improved to 18-6-2 with last night's win. Backup Eric Kallgren has played in 10 games, going 3-2-4 with a 2.67 GAA and .898 save percentage.
What's new:The Leafs aren't quite as banged up as the Blue Jackets - who is - but the team did go into the break second in the league in in-season man games lost. Matthews is currently out with a knee injury while goalie Matt Murray is out with an ankle injury. Jake Muzzin, Nick Robertson, Kyle Clifford and Victor Mete also have been out, and the Leafs enter at 6-4-1 in their last 11 games.
Trending:With last night's win, Toronto broke what had been a 10-10-0 tie since the start of the 2014-15 season. The Leafs also have won three of four this season and last.
Former CBJ:None