John Tavares adds another big goal as Maple Leafs slay Mammoth

John Tavares was given a ceremonial gold stick for a reason.

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Maple Leafs Alternate Captain honored before Wednesday's game against the Utah Mammoth, scoring his 500th NHL goal, adding his 501st in a 5-3 victory at Scotiabank Arena.

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Walking through his office in the slot, Tavares perfectly timed a pass to Bobby McMann that eluded two defenders. It was the 35-year-old Tavares' seventh game of the season, which brought Toronto its first three-game winning streak.

Former Mammoth forward Matias Maccelli capped his two-point game with an insurance marker, preceded by some great cycling from Dakota Joshua. Matthew Nice scored an empty net goal before Dyaln Gunter closed the scoring for Utah.

The Leafs had all the momentum going into the game, from the pregame ceremony in Tavares to the revamped rosters. Scott Lawton Center also made his season debut after a month out with a foot injury, and Maccelli had the chance to show that he should have been a regular player.

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Despite a surge and a flurry of chances against a team that looked like they were playing the night before, Toronto had to give up their seventh straight goal to open the game for their former man, Michael Carcone. Tavares assisted William Nylander's sixth goal and 19 points in 14 games.

This occurred in the midst of a line change, as Nylander took a prominent position on the right wing of the first line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Nice, the catalysts for Monday's four goals. comeback against the Penguins.

Matthews scored for the third game in a row thanks to a lucky shot from Maccelli during another midshift rotation. Tavares, McMann and Nick Robertson had some of Toronto's best chances, with McMann making a partial breakaway just before Carcone's goal. Laughton was between Max Domi and Steven Lorenz.

Improved flow prevented coach Craig Berube from achieving his goal. blender button along its lines when nothing was generated.

Toronto was unable to hold onto the lead midway through the period after a turnover in its own zone was converted into a point shot by Mikhail Sergachev, who somehow beat Anthony Stolarz through five holes.

The Leafs' lucrative 12-game, home-and-home schedule is coming to an end after back-to-back SBA games this weekend against Boston and Carolina.

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