1) Looking to jump on a wounded Avalanche team early, it’s hard to have a better first period than the Leafs did in this game. They led 20-8 in shots and 32-9 in 5v5 shot attempts. The Auston Matthews line was running roughshod on the Avalanche shift after shift; they played the most even strength minutes of any line in the first (4:33) and generated nine shots on goal, conceded zero against, and had four high-danger scoring chances.
Overall, the Leafs controlled 78% of possession in the first period and generated 18 shots from the home plate area in 14 minutes of even strength action.