It took a while, but the gulf in class between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings eventually became apparent on Tuesday.
The return of John Tavares and a call-up for Nic Petan meant there were some new faces on display for the Leafs, while the Kings were just looking to let their play do the talking amid a lingering controversy between star defenseman Drew Doughty and some members of the Canadian hockey media.
Neither team looked particularly interested in finding the back of the net in the first period, but the final 40 minutes produced four goals as Toronto pulled off a 3-1 win.
MORE: Doughty tells reporters to not twist players' words or 'we’re just gonna stop talking'
Here are three takeaways from the Maple Leafs' victory.
John Tavares returns
It was a long seven games for Toronto without their captain, but Tavares was ready to rejoin the fold after recovering from a broken finger he suffered on Oct. 16. The Leafs was decidedly average without Tavares over that span, going 3-2-2, and with him back in the lineup, Toronto hoped to return to the full strength they showed to start 2019-20.
Tavares' name drew a huge cheer from the Scotiabank Arena crowd when it was announced prior to puck drop on Tuesday, and at times the center looked like he hadn't missed a beat. He played exactly 18 minutes and won 67 percent of his faceoffs, while also putting in 3:12 of ice time on the power-play unit.
The 29-year-old being back is nothing but good news for the Leafs, but it was apparent that his sharpness in front of the net was nowhere near 100 percent, as seen late in the first period when he missed a wide-open net from point-blank range.
John Tavares might be a bit rusty. 😬pic.twitter.com/dyzlGEj1Z3
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) November 6, 2019
Tavares admitted to TSN in the intermission that he rushed the shot.
The good and bad of Alex Kerfoot
Toronto appeared a bit lifeless in the offensive zone throughout the opening period, and the middle frame got off to a terrible start for the team as L.A. forward Alex Iafallo scored the game's first goal at the 5:40 mark.
Enter Alex Kerfoot.
The first-year Maple Leaf, who joined the team in the offseason after a pair of seasons in Colorado, has been a solid contributor with seven points in 15 games prior to Tuesday's action. He added to that tally with a well-taken shorthanded goal midway through the second period that got Toronto on the board.
It was a heads-up play by the 25-year-old to steal the puck at the blue line and an even better finish.
Unfortunately, Kerfoot's positives come with a glaring negative: a lack of discipline.
The forward took a penalty — an interference call — just over two minutes after scoring. It was his team-leading eighth minor penalty of the season, and even though the Kings did nothing with the ensuing man-advantage, the Vancouver native told reporters after the game that his disciplinary issues have been "brutal" so far in the campaign.
Alex Kerfoot has been frustrated by his penalty issues this season: “I just got to clean that up, it's been brutal. Taking way too many penalties and away from the puck too, so wasn't feeling great after that. But getting back out there and having some good shifts felt good.”
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) November 6, 2019
Matthews and Nylander shine late
There was little to differentiate between the Leafs and Los Angeles on Tuesday — L.A. registered two more shots and actually scored on the power play, unlike Toronto.
But where the Kings lack is star power up front, and that just so happens to be the Leafs' forté. Close games are usually decided in moments, and Toronto certainly had a moment to remember when young guns Auston Matthews and William Nylander decided to steal the show late and put the game out of reach.
Matthews and Nylander each scored within a 30-second span midway through the third period, registering the primary assist on each other's tallies, to change the game from a 1-1 deadlock to the 3-1 scoreline that it would end with.
First, it was Matthews being the opportunist, pouncing on a rebound from up close after a fortuitous bounce off Nylander's skate. Then it was Nylander's turn, as the Swede finished off a pretty 2-on-1 assisted by Matthews.
Both of the team's young forwards, along with the likes of Tavares and Mitch Marner, are always going to be dangerous in close games, and the fact that the Leafs can roll out so much talent in such situations is an advantage few teams in the NHL have.