There’s a natural temptation to look towards the past, but let’s focus on the present: the Toronto Maple Leafs dispatched the Florida Panthers 4-1 in one of their most complete victories of the season.

Mats Sundin was in attendance to celebrate Auston Matthews setting the franchise record for all-time goals. Sundin met with Matthews prior to the game, and then spoke to reporters about Matthews’ accomplishment during the first intermission.

“I think it’s important when there’s history being made and records being broken,” Sundin said. “Being a Maple Leaf, it’s so special for me. And I think I can relate to where Auston Matthews is, in his career at this point. It’s kind of exciting to get it over with it, because he has more important things to think about: winning games, winning hockey games for the Leafs. But it was important, and I felt that I wanted to be here.”

Matthews was clearly invigorated and scored for the third consecutive game, providing the Maple Leafs with some insurance. Easton Cowan opened the scoring in the first period, Matthew Knies tipped home a Troy Stecher shot in the second period, before Matthews notched his 21st goal of the season. Carter Verhaeghe solved Joseph Woll on an unforced error, before Bobby McMann re-stored the three-goal lead with an empty netter.

The entire trajectory of the franchise may be different if the Leafs played the Panthers this well last summer, but entertaining hypotheticals are often a fool’s errand. And don’t look now, but the present is beginning to look pretty good for the 2025-26 Maple Leafs.

Brandon Carlo returned to the lineup for the first time since November 13, and made an immediate impact. Carlo was cool, calm and composed with the puck, facilitating easy exits against a discipled Panthers’ forecheck throughout the evening. He was deployed in a 4-on-4 scenario during the first period after Max Domi fought Aaron Ekblad, and floated around the ice with relative ease.

“He’s a stability guy,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Carlo following Tuesday’s morning skate. “It’s his first game back in a long time, so we have to manage his game and his minutes. He’s a guy who eats minutes, gets in the way, blocks shots. All that type of stuff. He’s a good defensive defenceman, penalty killer, all of that.”

Carlo was primarily deployed against Anton Lundell and the Panthers’ first line, and he won the majority of his minutes at 5-on-5. He finished with a 60.9 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5 via Natural Stat Trick, second only to Rielly.

“Carlo, great having him back tonight. I thought he played well. He’s been out for a long time, but thought he did a really good job tonight,” Berube said post-game.

Morgan Rielly evidently heard the constant waves of criticism, following a dreadful performance against the New York Islanders on January 3. Rielly was on the ice for all four goals against the Islanders, including Matthew Schaefer’s game-winner, drawing the wrath of the fan base, along with some sectors of the media. A strong game in isolation won’t silence his critics, but credit where credit is due, Rielly excelled against the Panthers.

Rielly didn’t sacrifice defensive positioning for offensive impact, and was unlucky not to score during the second period, when Matias Maccelli found him crashing at the back post. Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made his best save of the night, but Rielly and the Leafs were undeterred. The veteran defenceman finished with a team-high 62 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5, and limited the quality of the Panthers’ chances throughout the night.

Rielly made a terrific shot block in the third period, finishing the game with a plus-two rating. It’s the type of performance Rielly can build upon, during what’s been a tough year overall.

Auston Matthews looks like a face-of-the-league calibre superstar, and continued his torrid form with a beautiful goal in the second period. Matthews and Matias Maccelli won a puck battle, and Toronto’s captain darted to the net. Matthew Knies emerged with the puck, waltzed through several Panthers defenders, before tipping the puck back to Matthews, who buried it into the open cage.

It was a beautiful goal, and considering Matthews’ goal-scoring prowess was being celebrated Tuesday, it was only fitting.

“I heard him and obviously he’s a good goal scorer. He knows to put himself in a good area like that in front of the net,” Knies said post-game.

“It’s special to wear this jersey,” Matthews said post-game. “It’s an absolute honour. To have Mats come in, to have so many players before us that have paved the way and worn this jersey. I’m very appreciative.”

Matthews has recorded six goals and seven points in three games to start the 2026 calendar year. It’s not just his goal-scoring ability that has reappeared. Matthews is skating with real explosiveness through the neutral zone and fighting through contact with ease, which is unlocking the totality of his game. If Matthews is all the way back, it will be the most compelling reason why to keep eyes on the Leafs during the second half of the year.

Matthew Knies always seems to find an extra gear when he’s playing against the Panthers, and was rolling over opponents Tuesday. We went through Knies’ terrific assist to Matthews, but he’s been completely locked in for the better part of two weeks. Knies expertly deflected Troy Stecher’s shot to give the Leafs a 2-0 lead, and he was arguably the best player on Toronto’s top line with Matthews and Bobby McMann.

“It’s a hard thing to do for 82 games. I try to work my tail off to do that. Sometimes, it doesn’t happen. There are unlucky bounces when the game goes that way. I want to tailor myself to being that kind of player, I take that pride in being consistent,” Knies said post-game.

Knies wasn’t credited with a hit, but he used his speed, frame and hands to great effect against the Panthers. And it’s clear that Knies and Matthews are helping each other play to their fullest strengths. There are 40 games remaining, and Matthews, Knies and Rielly led the way in a comprehensive victory over a detested rival.

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