Kings at Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs and their high-powered offense attempt to extend their winning streak to five contests when they begin a three-game homestand Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. Toronto has recorded 23 goals on its string of victories while league leader Auston Matthews (10) has registered four two-goal performances during his season-opening six-game streak.
The 21-year-old Matthews has notched at least two points in each contest this season and leads the NHL with 14 while defenseman Morgan Rielly (13), John Tavares (10) and Mitch Marner (10) also rank in the top eight in scoring. Matthews and Kasperi Kapanen each recorded a goal and an assist on Saturday as the Maple Leafs skated to a 4-2 road triumph over defending Stanley Cup champion Washington. Los Angeles is looking to break even on its four-game road trip after falling to 1-2-0 with Saturday's 5-1 setback in Ottawa. Trevor Lewis tallied in the defeat for the Kings, who have produced only five goals over the first three games of their trek.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet Ontario (Toronto)
ABOUT THE KINGS (2-2-1): Alex Iafallo shares the team lead in both points (four) and goals (two) but has been kept off the scoresheet in each of his last two games. The 24-year-old left wing recorded only nine tallies in 75 contests as a rookie last season. Captain Anze Kopitar also has tallied twice this campaign and is eight goals away from 300 for his career.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (5-1-0): With his effort on Saturday, Matthews joined Sweeney Schriner (1944-45) as the only players in franchise history to both score a goal and notch multiple points in each of the team's first six games of a season. "It feels good to help contribute," Matthews told reporters. "The most important part is, we're winning games." Rielly has recorded a point in each of Toronto's six contests, which is the longest streak to start a campaign by a defenseman in franchise history.
OVERTIME
1. Since 1943-44, Matthews is the first player to score at least 10 goals in his team's first six games since Mario Lemieux accomplished the feat in 1988-89.
2. Los Angeles is one of only three teams yet to score on the power play, going 0-for-18 with the man advantage over its first five games.
3. Rielly joined Harry Cameron (15) of the 1917-18 Toronto Arenas and Paul Reinhart (14) of the 1989-90 Vancouver Canucks as the only Ds in NHL history to collect at least 13 points in his team's first six contests.