The Red Wings got an up close and personal look Tuesday at Auston Matthews' personal rampage through the NHL.
Matthews, the NHL's goal-scoring leader, scored two goals to reach the 60-goal milestone as Toronto defeated the Red Wings, 3-0.
Matthews scored No. 60 with a third-period, power-play goal, a wrist shot from the high slot that beat goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, giving the Leafs a 3-0 lead. Matthews became the first 60-goal scorer in the NHL since Tampa's Steven Stamkos in 2011-12.
John Tavares added the other Toronto goal, his 27th, and goaltender Jack Campbell stopped 20 shots for his fifth shutout.
The victory clinched the second-seed for Toronto (53-21-7) in the Atlantic Division, and home-ice advantage in the first round against either Tampa Bay or Boston.
For the Red Wings (31-40-10), it was a fine effort against a playoff-contending team with so much offensive firepower. But the attrition in the Wings' lineup took its toll against the Leafs.
The Wings were already missing forwards Dylan Larkin (core surgery), Robby Fabbri (knee) and Filip Zadina (appendix), and didn't have Tyler Bertuzzi in Toronto because of Bertuzzi's unvaccinated status (can't travel to Canada).
Defenseman Marc Staal was placed on the COVID-19 list Tuesday, forcing Staal out of the lineup, and the Wings were also missing forward Adam Erne (unspecified).
Nedeljkovic stopped 33 shots in a busy night in net.
Matthews broke a 0-0 tie at 15 minutes, 48 seconds of the second period, scoring his 59th goal.
Leafs forward Jason Spezza outmuscled Jake Walman for the puck near the post, and fed Matthews driving through the slot. Matthews slipped the puck through Nedeljkovic with a backhand flip.
Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill talked about the dominant season Matthews has put together after the morning skate.
"He's been excellent his whole career," said Blashill, who compared Matthews as a young center early in Matthews' NHL career to a young defenseman.
"Those are hard positions to be great. He's done a real good job over time of getting better and better on the defensive side of the puck. He's better at making sure he's checking well, and with that, they've won a bunch of games.
"There are moments, whether he's added strength or confidence, but he's just been really taking games over when you feel he gets to a whole another level."
The line with Matthews and Mitch Marner as mainstays on it have taken the Leafs to another level, as well as taken their own games to elite levels.
"They're both excellent, elite players, really their whole careers, and that's without a doubt," Blashill said. "It feels like they both have really brought it to another whole level, certainly with Auston.
"There's been nights he's been an absolute beast, and with the package he has with the size and skill and skating and shooting, when he's in that mode, he's really hard to contain, even for the best players in the world on the other team.
"That's what a guy like he can do. He's just an elite NHL package. And Marner, I've always had tons of respect for Marner's game. He's a good two way player. For a guy who produces as much offense, he's accountable on the other side and that's why he kills penalties.
"They've both been guys who have been really special in the league and they're bringing it to another level."
The Wings had a patched together lineup, but Blashill didn't make excuses.
"You're missing some good players, but that's just the reality," Blashill said. "We'd love to have a full lineup but that doesn't happen all the time.
"You'd like to have as few guys that are new as possible because it hurts the cohesiveness but that the situation we're in and we'll dress a group that is good enough to win.
"We have to go out and win a hockey game"
