Since the calendar flipped to December, the Maple Leafs haven’t played their best hockey despite a positive record through eight games. As Toronto closed the first week of December with a record of 2-2-0, they entered week 10 of the season with four games on tap, winning three regardless of some ups and downs they faced.

The week may have started incredibly well for Anthony Stolarz, but the 30-year-old had to leave last Thursday’s game against his former team, the Anaheim Ducks, due to a lower-body injury that has landed him on IR (injured reserve).

The Maple Leafs began the week in New Jersey to take on Sheldon Keefe’s Devils for the second time this season, and long story short, they didn’t deserve to win. Fortunately, that’s why you have a goalie, to keep you in games, and that’s what Stolarz did for the Maple Leafs. Toronto came out super flat and New Jersey was on their game all night. However, the 30-year-old displayed one of his best performances in the crease as a Maple Leaf, turning aside 38 of the 39 shots New Jersey registered, keeping his team in the game so they could tie it and win in overtime.

He got the starting nod 48 hours later at home and allowed one goal on eight shots before Joseph Woll came in relief to start the second period. Stolarz posted a save percentage of .947 in four periods last week, helping improve his season numbers to a 2.15 GAA (2nd in NHL) and a .927 SV% (1st in NHL).

Max Pacioretty recently returned to the lineup after missing 10 games due to a lower-body injury sustained against the Montreal Canadiens in early November. His start with the Maple Leafs went well. He recorded six points in his first eight games but soon ran into a drought, going five consecutive games without a point before being sidelined with that injury.

He returned to the lineup on December 7th against Pittsburgh and didn’t pick up a point in his first two games back, but was very noticeable on the physical side, dishing out five combined hits. When Toronto travelled back home to take on Anaheim, the 36-year-old had one of his best games as a Toronto Maple Leaf, scoring two goals, adding an assist and recording three hits.

The top six put on a show last Thursday against the Ducks, which included the line of Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander, as they combined for six points in the win. With Pacioretty’s three-point week, the New Canaan, Connecticut native has improved his season totals to nine points – four goals and five assists – in 18 games while being one of the most physical players on the ice. His 55 hits rank sixth on the team despite playing 13 fewer games. He owns 3.06 hits per game, which ranks first on the team, just ahead of Ryan Reaves (2.91).

If you had to pick three players to be in the conversation for the MVP of this team through 31 games, John Tavares’ name would probably get picked quite a bit. The 34-year-old may not be in the middle of an elite, all-worldly season, but the former captain has been super productive in 2024-25, with 15 goals and 28 points in 30 games.

Tavares opened the week with a scoreless effort against the Devils but bounced back at home with a two-assist night against the Ducks. He couldn’t carry that momentum into Detroit on Saturday night, as the Maple Leafs struggled to keep their structure, breaking down and falling to their division rivals. However, the veteran forward notched his 13th career hat trick, which helped drag his team back from a two-goal deficit, to defeat the Buffalo Sabres last night 5-3.