Matt Murray made a season-high 44 saves and Mitch Marner extended his Toronto-record point streak to 20 games with an early assist as the Maple Leafs beat host Dallas Stars 4-0 on Tuesday night.
Dallas went 0 for 7 on the power play despite 17 shots on goal, including a four-minute double minor and a 5-on-3 for 1:38.
Toronto blocked 27 shots in its first shutout this season, and the Stars missed the net on 22 attempts.
“Big thanks to the guys in front who did a heck of a job defensively tonight against a really dangerous team,” said Murray, who was acquired from Ottawa last summer and shares time in net with fellow newcomer Ilya Samsonov.
WATCH l Marner assists John Tavares’ winner as Leafs shut down Stars:
Mitch Marner extended his points streak to 20 games with an assist on John Tavares’ winner as Toronto shut down Dallas 4-0.
Murray is 6-0-2 since missing 15 games with an adductor injury following his initial start of the season.
“He was perfect,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Came up with huge saves in big moments. Obviously, the number of penalties we took today could have been a big problem.”
The Stars were shut out for the first time this season and are tied with Winnipeg atop the Central Division with 33 points. The Jets have two games in hand.
Jake Oettinger stopped 25 shots.
It was the NHL’s first game featuring two players with point streaks of at least 18 games.
Marner got an assist when his wrist shot was stopped but Tavares tapped in the rebound 4:51 in for the first of two first-period Toronto goals.
“Like I’ve been saying, it’s not a one-man effort,” Marner said. “Just trying to go out there and buzz.”
Matthews took possession after his wrist shot was stopped and circled back into the slot to score at 17:36.
Sandin collected a loose puck just outside the crease and scored at 12:19 of the second period for a 3-0 lead.
Kerfoot added an empty-net goal with 3:53 remaining, rolling the puck in from centre ice. It was his first goal since a 3-2 overtime win at home over the Stars on Oct. 20.
Got that dawg in him <a href=”https://t.co/jBqrVIGQN8″>pic.twitter.com/jBqrVIGQN8</a>
—@MapleLeafs
Toronto played most of the game with only five defencemen. Victor Mete left with a lower-body injury after playing just 3:04 of the first period. Mete is expected to miss at least a few games.
During part of Dallas’ 5-on-3 late in the second, the Maple Leafs were further handcuffed when Marner had to give up a broken stick. He still managed to block a shot.
Maple Leafs forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev made his NHL debut, playing 7:16.