There was pomp, circumstance and celebration emanating from Scotiabank Arena on Friday evening, as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Detroit Red Wings in the Hall of Fame Game. Toronto held a pre-game ceremony honouring this year’s inductees, pushing the start time back by 15 minutes.

And once the on-ice proceedings began, it was a low-event game, where the Maple Leafs’ true talent level was apparent against a Red Wings team that struggled to muster any offensive threat, save for the first line.

John Tavares scored twice, including an empty-netter, Mitch Marner also scored for the Maple Leafs as his point streak extended to seven games, while Anthony Stolarz delivered another sensational performance. Dylan Larkin notched Detroit’s lone goal on the power play.

Here are five takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ victory on Friday night:

John Tavares is owed an apology by many factions of the fan base and casual viewers aside. Some lobbied for Tavares to take a cut rate on his next deal, which has yet to be signed, while others started promoting the theory that Tavares would enter a precipitous decline in his age-34 season.

Tavares scored twice, including an empty-netter which effectively sealed the game with 90 seconds left. He was constantly moving his feet and bowling over opponents, getting to the net-front, working well in a two-man game with William Nylander and put the Red Wings’ defenders on their heels.

“John is John. He’s a hell of a competitor,” Marner said of Tavares post-game. “He’s a hell of a teammate. You’re grateful for him every day. He works on the small little things you guys don’t really see.”

Throughout the evening, Tavares worked well alongside Mitch Marner on the power play and he was initially credited with Toronto’s first goal. Tavares led the Maple Leafs with four shots in all situations, and his hockey intelligence continues to be a nearly unrivalled asset.

Tavares scored the game-winner in large part due to the fact that he was aware of his surroundings and perched himself into the slot. When Marner’s shot attempt ricocheted into a high-danger area, Tavares turned and fired quickly with a laser of a shot. Tavares’ hockey intelligence was what made him a prodigy in the minor hockey circuit, it’s been his best quality in a borderline Hall of Fame career — or perhaps he will get in eventually, tonight naturally invites reflection!

He sealed the victory for the Maple Leafs by picking off Moritz Seider’s drop pass, then deposited the puck into Detroit’s empty net for the 3-1 lead. Tavares hasn’t changed and he continues to be a key component of the Maple Leafs, while shaking off the casual observers’ consternation from the eye test. But if you want some stats, too: Tavares’ line with Nylander and Max Pacioretty outshot their opponents 4-0, with a 76 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5 via Natural Stat Trick.

“I continue to do what I need to do to help this team win games and be successful,” Tavares said post-game. “There’s always a belief in myself and how I can impact the game and the level I can play at certainly. I know the work that I put in, the enjoyment I have every day coming to the rink and competing. I love playing with these guys, I love playing here, it’s special.”

“You’re always aware of things that evolve or that might be different and you adapt, and just continue to trust what I do and help the team as best as I can.”

Anthony Stolarz has not only emerged as Toronto’s true No. 1 goalie during the opening month of the season, he’s quickly entering team lore with his theatrical saves. Stolarz largely played a cool, calm and composed game against a Red Wings team that couldn’t generate much offense. Holding a 2-1 lead in the third period, Stolarz made a barehanded save, which was unbelievable to watch in real-time.

“It’s kind of what it takes, right? Late in the game like that, I kind of got a lot of position. I think (Lukas) Raymond was all alone in front there, the puck went to the other side and hit my pad and scramble mode from there. I think my blocker kind of got caught up on somebody’s skate or stick, and I kinda just saw the puck and stayed there and just grabbed it,” Stolarz said of the save.

His teammates were equally impressed and amused with Stolarz’ heroics on the play.

“Stolie, he doesn’t need much equipment,” Tavares said with a laugh. “He was big enough, clearly. He was phenomenal again. Obviously, some big saves there again in the third. He was great.”

“It was a bit of a dog pile in there. Nice to see him come out with the puck in his hand. Good to see him come out of it with all five fingers,” Marner remarked.

Stolarz is 6-2-2 with a .930 save percentage, averaging two goals allowed per game. The 30-year-old is making spectacular stops and through the first month of the season, has established himself as a legitimate contender for the Vezina Trophy.

Nick Robertson plays with all-out aggression on the ice and it felt somewhat unfair that his opening goal was taken off the board, when it was determined that Bobby McMann collided with Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot. McMann made a terrific, no-look pass to Robertson with his back turned to set it up, and it was a tough result for Robertson specifically, who has just one goal to begin the year.

Robertson’s teammates saw the impact he made, and he was awarded the team belt, which goes to the team’s best or most impactful player in a winning effort. He also drew his team-leading seventh penalty of the season and him and McMann — who started the year on fire and has cooled off as of late — continued to use their speed and tenacity well throughout the contest. Robertson and McMann both finished with a 63 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5, which was only bested by Chris Tanev in the winning effort.

“I thought they were excellent,” Berube said of Robertson and McMann post-game. “The first goal, he touched the goalie’s head, I think. That line was really good. I thought they got through the offensive zone a lot, skated really well, competed on pucks.”

Berube’s opinion is ultimately what matters and though some have considered Robertson to be a trade candidate as the Maple Leafs look to create room with a surplus of NHL-calibre players on their roster, it’s clear that at least for now, he’s won his coach’s confidence. McMann should always be a fixture in the lineup due to his elite speed and chance generation — it’s just a matter of time before both players are rewarded for doing the small things well.

Mitch Marner took the ceremonial faceoff against Dylan Larkin to commemorate the Hall of Fame game, and for all intents and purposes, he played like Toronto’s de facto captain on Friday. Marner scored Toronto’s first goal, his shot ricocheted into prime position for Tavares’ game-winner, he was terrific on the penalty kill and he continues to impress during a seven-game point streak.

“Just trying to be responsible on both sides of the puck and when I get the puck in my hands, trying to make responsible plays,” Marner self-assessed when asked about his point streak. “Just try to do what I do out there. Just trying to keep moving, be a threat out there and play the right way.”

“His leadership is excellent. He leads by example with his play. He’s a leader that plays both ends of the ice. He does as much defensively as he does offensively. He’s getting points because he’s doing things right the other way,” Berube said of Marner post-game.

Marner is quietly up to 18 points in 15 games to start the year, his playmaking is coming into full form and he’s often tasked with shutting down the opposing team’s best winger — and on Friday, he did a good job of limiting Patrick Kane’s effectiveness. This is precisely what you want to see in Matthews’ absence.

Toronto’s once-dormant power play is now 6-for-11 in their latest sample and it has caught fire during the two games Matthews has missed. The team has simplified their entries, Marner is making clever passes when the zone is established, Knies is bullying defenders in the net-front role, while Tavares is relying on his superior hockey intelligence to make plays. Everything is clicking for a hyper-talented team that wasn’t going to linger in the league’s bottom quadrant forever.

“I think it was going to be a matter of time, we kind of had to stay with it, it’s a long season,” Tavares said post-game. “Try to build good habits. Naturally, we’re doing things we’re talking about, we’re preaching, it’s starting to pay off. We’re doing a better job of that. Just our pace, delivering pucks to the net, retrieving pucks and finding second and third opportunities. making it difficult on the goalie, screens, and like I said, second and third opportunities.”

Toronto is now clicking at a 18.4 percent clip, good for 16th in the league. What a difference a week makes, and the Maple Leafs should be able to apply the principles of getting pucks to the net and creating rebounds when the world’s best shooter returns from injury.

This Article is a Presentation of Prime Video. Catch Prime Monday Night Hockey, all season long. Claim your free trial today.