Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Two points including GWG
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Tavares scored the overtime winner and added an assist in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Capitals.
With less than a minute left in the extra frame, Joseph Woll made a huge stop on an Alex Ovechkin one-timer, and Mitch Marner cleared the rebound down the ice. Tavares got to the puck first and made no mistake, slipping it between Logan Thompson's legs as he cut across the front of the Washington net. The 34-year-old center has nine goals on the season, and three of them have been game-winners. Tavares has produced four multi-point performances in the last nine contests, racking up seven goals and 10 points over that stretch.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Shooting more than ever before
Rotowire
Tavares scored a goal Saturday in a 4-1 win over Montreal.
He has three goals in his last two appearances, bringing Tavares up to eight goals along with six assists and 56 shots in 15 games in 2024-25. Those 56 shots put him in a tie for sixth in the NHL. Tavares is on pace for more than 300 shots, a height he has never achieved in his career. His game has slowed, but he's delivering solid fantasy results for his managers.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Snaps drought with two-goal effort
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Tavares scored two goals, one on the power play and an empty-netter, in Friday's 3-1 win over the Red Wings.
Tavares snapped a three-game point drought and a four-game goalless skid in a timely fashion, scoring the game-winner in the second period and closing out the scoring with an empty-netter with only 1:30 left in the contest. Tavares is up to 13 points this season, and his seven goals rank second on the team behind only William Nylander's 10. Tavares also has three multi-point efforts in his last six appearances.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Six-game, nine-point streak
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Tavares picked up two assists Thursday in a 4-1 victory over the Kraken.
Both assists came on William Nylander goals. Tavares has gotten hot fast after coach Craig Berube reunited him with Nylander on the second line. He has five points (three goals, two assists) in his last two games while skating with Nylander, and the assists stretched his point streak to six games (three goals, six assists). Tavares' deployment on line two makes him a strong fantasy option, as long as the Leafs don't trade for a second-line center.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Twelfth hat trick of career
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Tavares scored a hat trick Monday in a 6-4 win over Winnipeg.
It was his fourth hattie as a Leaf and 12th of his career, and his first goal was NHL point No. 1,047 for him, passing Henri Richard for 79th in NHL history. Tavares has taken a lot of heat from fans and Toronto media for his visible drop in foot speed and productivity, but this was a statement game for the former captain, who's riding a five-game, seven-point streak (three goals, four assists). Tavares centered Max Pacioretty and William Nylander on the second line and the trio looked sharp Monday. That's a hopeful sign for the Leafs and fantasy managers.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Registers first helper
Rotowire
Tavares logged an assist, four shots on goal and two PIM in Monday's 5-2 win over the Lightning.
Tavares' 16:32 of ice time was his highest mark since he saw 18:48 on Opening Night. The 34-year-old has three points, 15 shots on net, four hits, four PIM and a minus-2 rating over five appearances this season. Tavares has often centered the third line at even strength, but a spot on the top power-play unit should keep his offense at a viable level for fantasy managers.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Scores PP goal in Wednesday's win
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Tavares scored a power-play goal on three shots in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Kings.
Tavares returned to the ice after a one-game absence due to an illness and managed to find the back of the net for the second game in a row, this time on the power play following setups from Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews in the third period. Tavares will aim to keep his scoring streak alive when facing the Rangers on Saturday knowing he has two goals on five shots over his last two contests.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Back at practice
Rotowire
Tavares (illness) practiced Tuesday, Nick Barden of The Hockey News reports.
Tavares should be available to return Wednesday against the Kings after sitting out Saturday's 4-2 win over Pittsburgh and Monday's practice because of an illness. During Tuesday's session, he skated on the second line and worked on the top power-play combination. Tavares has one goal on six shots through two appearances this season.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Won't play Saturday
Rotowire
Tavares (illness) won't play Saturday against Pittsburgh, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Tavares will miss at least one contest after being absent from Saturday's morning skate. He has one goal on six shots in two outings this campaign. Due to Tavares' absence, Max Domi will shift to center in Saturday's contest, while Ryan Reaves will draw back into the lineup.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Questionable Saturday
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Tavares (illness) could miss Saturday's contest against the Penguins, David Alter of The Hockey News.
Tavares missed Saturday's morning skate with an illness, though he's a "possibility" to play Saturday night against the Penguins, per coach Craig Berube. The 34-year-old Tavares has a goal through two games to start the season.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Free to snipe
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Tavares scored his first goal of the season in Thursday's 4-2 win over New Jersey.
Tavares broke in on Jacob Markstrom and scored from the slot on a nice touch feed from Max Domi. The former captain has come into 2024-25 looking freer and lighter, perhaps because he's no longer carrying the weight of the C on his jersey. Tavares, who put up 65 points in 80 games last season, could rebound to the mid-70s with this reduced pressure.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Back in lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Tavares (lower body) will return to the lineup Saturday against Detroit,
Tavares has missed the last week of action but will be ready for the start of the season. The 34-year-old center had 29 goals and 36 assists in 80 regular-season games with the Maple Leafs in 2023-24. Tavares will occupy a top-six role and see time on the first power-play unit during the 2024-25 campaign.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Labeled day-to-day
Rotowire
Tavares is dealing with a lower-body injury and will not skate Friday as a result.
Tavares took a hit from Montreal's Michael Pezzetta in Thursday's preseason contest, which has given the former an injury designation. Tavares returned to the game after taking the hit and even scored a goal -- this could be a sign that the injury is not overly serious, but more of a precautionary move by the team. Expect an update on the status of the 34-year-old ahead of Saturday's rematch versus Montreal.
Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Power-play tally in Game 2 win
Rotowire
Tavares scored a goal on two shots in Monday's 3-2 victory over the Bruins.
Tavares tied the game 2-2 on the man advantage late in the second period, beating Linus Ullmark with a turnaround wrister for his first goal of the playoffs. The 33-year-old Tavares finished the regular season with at least one goal in each of his final four contests. He tallied 29 goals and 65 points across 80 outings this year.
Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Snags 27th goal of season
Rotowire
Tavares scored his 27th goal of the season Saturday in a 5-4 overtime loss to Detroit.
Tavares has three goals in his last two games after putting up just one in his previous 10. His overall production has dropped off a bit (63 points in 78 games), but those 27 goals are right in line with his other seasons in Toronto. Tavares' shooting percentage (9.9) is well below his career mark of 12.8, so that bears watching heading into 2024-25, but he'll also be 34 years old by the start of next season and may have lost a step.
