10 best Maple Leafs moments from the first 10 games this season

Toronto Maple Leafs / Twitter

The Maple Leafs are 7-3-0 to start the season, and the city can barely contain its excitement.

This team is for real and Toronto knows it.

Just 10 games into the season and we’ve already been treated to some great moments. Here’s the best 10:

1. Patrick Marleau’s two-goal Maple Leafs debut

Two quick goals and it’s evident the 38-year-old Patrick Marleau fits right in with the young guys.

Since then, Marleau’s netted two more pucks and added three assists for a total seven points.

Marleau came to Toronto to win the Stanley Cup, and his personal expectations are high.

The Leafs are off to an incredible start, so maybe it’s time to start planning that parade after all.

2. Matthews’ second OT winner against Montreal

This victory was Toronto’s first in Montreal since October 1, 2013, and the team’s fourth to start the season.

The Habs are also the second worst team in the league right now, which is just another reason for Leafs fans to celebrate.

3. Matthews’ first OT winner against Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, but Auston Matthews wasn’t fazed. Following his heroics, the Leafs were a perfect 3-0-0 to start the season.

This begs the question, are the Blackhawks still struggling since being swept in round one last season, or are the Leafs just that good?

4. Leafs’ home opener win

The Leafs are notorious for blowing leads and losing, but this wasn’t the case against the New York Rangers on October 7.

After blowing a 5-1 lead, the Leafs scored three in the third to win the game. Here’s the referee’s view of Nazem Kadri’s goal, Toronto’s seventh and final goal scorer of the night.

By this point in the season Toronto had 15 goals in two games, while Montreal has a mere 18 goals so far.

5. Marner’s bounce back game against the LA Kings

Mitch Marner’s fourth line “demotion” is hardly that, and he proved it Monday night by tallying two assists.

Getting the job done. @mattymarts17 #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/lJGxKLNCAq

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 23, 2017

He’s also formed a bromance with Matt Martin, and seems perfectly happy and productive in his current role.

Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Matt Martin and Mitch Marner really like smelling salts. #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/o8uSTzMzlK

— Complete Hockey News (@CompleteHkyNews) October 19, 2017

The kid’s a star, so just leave him alone.

6. Leafs shut out the Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin may have 10 goals in 10 games, but he wasn’t able to beat Frederik Andersen on Oct. 17.

Frederik Andersen earns his 11th career shutout and 5th as a member of the #Leafs. pic.twitter.com/SdYvYdMhw6

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 18, 2017

Andersen made 30 saves in the win… who says the Leafs can’t play defence?

7. The Leafs’ special teams are killing it right now

As it currently stands, the Leafs have the fifth best penalty kill and the third best power play in the league.

And they’ve been dominant since the first game.

Zaitsev 18:34 TOI leads Leafs. Toronto with 17 blocked shots. 1 for 2 on the power play and 6 for 6 on the penalty kill. #tmltalk

— Paul Hendrick (@HennyTweets) October 5, 2017

James van Riemsdyk already has five power play points to start the year, one of which forced Toronto’s first OT win of the season.

It’s a TIE GAME in Toronto. #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/Itp4fbfpfv

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 10, 2017

Now that’s how you win hockey games.

8. Morgan Rielly is on fire

The Leafs defenceman has nine points to start the year (one goal eight assists), and many of his helpers look like this.

Patrick Marleau redirects a Morgan Rielly point shot and the Leafs are up 3-1 pic.twitter.com/62VpWQWEpo

— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) October 24, 2017

As one of four defenceman playing over 20 minutes each night, it’s evident Mike Babcock has faith in his young blue liner. Could he be Toronto’s next captain?

9. Dominic Moore scores in debut, back-to-back games

Brought in as a fourth line centre, it’s amazing Dominic Moore has three goals in six games to start the season.

He scored his first goal three and a half minutes into his first game back with the Maple Leafs, and has since secured the job from forward Eric Fehr.

Maybe he should just play with Matthews on line one?

10. Leafs score four goals off first five shots against Detroit

This rarely happens in today’s NHL, and the Leafs would eventually land their sixth win of the season because of it.

It’s a rout… 4-1 Leafs on five shots. 16.5 minutes into the game. Yikes.

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) October 19, 2017

Curtis McElhinney also picked up the win, giving Andersen (who had five wins in six games at this point) a well deserved break.

Its always nice when your backup can deliver.