10 stats that define Maple Leafs' first 10 games of the season

"Everyone is waiting to see if Auston Matthews is back to the form he displayed two years ago en route to a 69-goal campaign. Matthews played through a lingering upper-body injury last season, recording 33 goals and 78 points in 67 games, which are great totals for virtually anyone but the 2022 Hart Trophy recipient. Matthews is going through the correct process, at least through the initial first two weeks of the season, but the goals aren't flying in just yet."

"Is it merely a function of poor shooting luck? That would be a bit naive and overly simplistic. There are times where Matthews has displayed his usual velocity, but it's not occurring with enough frequency to alleviate any concerns permanently. Matthews has recorded five goals and eight points through 10 games, he's playing well, and the threat of his shot creates further time and space for his linemates."

"Toronto's power play is an assembly of some of the game's greatest offensive talent, so it's frustrating to see the man advantage stumble to a 14.8 percent success rate. Ahead of Wednesday's slate, the Maple Leafs sport the 27th-ranked power play in the NHL. That's simply not good enough for a group that consists of Matthews, Matthew Knies, John Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly."

Ten statistics encapsulate the Maple Leafs' first ten games, showing offensive strengths, weaknesses and concerns. Auston Matthews has a 12.2 percent shooting percentage in all situations, posting five goals and eight points through 10 games after playing through an upper-body injury last season. Matthews shows shot velocity at times but lacks consistent frequency and must convert at a higher rate than 12 percent. The Maple Leafs' power play converts at 14.8 percent, ranked 27th in the NHL, despite featuring Matthews, Matthew Knies, John Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly. Preseason emphasis on early power-play shots has not translated consistently into games.

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