Matthews, Marner see room for top line’s chemistry to grow

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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The Leafs held a skate (game group) and practice at the Ford Performance on Monday. 

Toronto's top line is ready for its pre-season debut. 

"It seems like it's going really well in practice, so it's time to take that into game shape," said Mitch Marner. 

"It's felt like we're right back where we left off," said left winger Michael Bunting. 

"It's been a long week of practice, and you just want to get back in a game," said centre Auston Matthews. "It's been a lot of skating this last week."

Matthews, Bunting and Marner have played in one pre-season game each on Sept. 24, but not together. So, Monday night is their first chance to really get the chemistry going again. They believe they can be even better this season. 

"There's always room to grow no matter what," Matthews said. "We want to continue to elevate our game and push each other out there and make sure that every night we're coming and competing and playing very consistent."

It will hard to be better than last year when Matthews potted 60 goals and won the Hart Trophy and Marner finished with 97 points en route to being voted the NHL's first team all-star right winger. 

"Matty had 60. Mitchy almost had 100 points. So, I mean, if they want to get better that would be awesome," Bunting said with a grin. "You can never be satisfied with what you did in the past. We want to dominate and play our game out there and that's our plan tonight." 

Toronto's top line was so effective last season that you almost forget how the year started. Matthews missed the first three games following off-season wrist surgery. He scored just once in his first six games. Marner started the season in a funk producing just one assist in seven games.