When new captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews temporarily disappears with a mystery injury, John Tavares simply slides back into the gig like a favourite old pair of jeans. Letter or no letter.

After the Maple Leafs scored just three power-play goals in their first nine games with Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson taking turns quarterbacking Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares, Berube turned the page on Monday by dropping Nylander and Tavares to PP2.

After the Maple Leafs had a goal by Steven Lorentz disallowed midway through the third period, Nylander made it 3-2 at 15:51. Matthew Knies intercepted Tom Wilson’s pass at the blue line and drove to the net before Nylander tapped in the rebound.

John Tavares is turning back the clock and making a strong case for being the Toronto Maple Leafs’ most impactful player this season. In a thrilling 4-3 overtime comeback against the Washington Capitals,

John Tavares scored two goals and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Friday night.

WASHINGTON — Mitch Marner tied it in the final minute of the third period, John Tavares scored the overtime winner and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Mitch Marner tied it in the final minute of the third period, John Tavares scored the overtime winner and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Wednesday night.