Leafs/Wings Oct. 11 Takeaways:

LEAFS GIVE UP FIRST GOAL, BUT TIE IT WITH RIELLY GOAL BEFORE INTERMISSION
Toronto was seeking its third win in a row after Tuesday's 7-4 victory over Dallas, and Thursday's game was their second-to-last in a four-game road trip. So some might have surmised the Leafs were tired in surrendering the first goal against the Red Wings 7:18 into the opening period, but that theory would soon be proven wrong. Indeed, at 15:48 of the first frame, the Buds evened the score at a goal apiece on defenceman Morgan Rielly's third goal of the season:

Toronto took advantage of a poor zone breakout attempt by Detroit, with winger Mitch Marner quickly turning the play the other way and finding Rielly skating in on goalie Jimmy Howard. A perfect pass from Marner led to a scorching one-timer shot from Rielly that went into the net and became his league-leading (in that moment, at least) 11th point of the year. But that wouldn't be the final time Marner or Rielly would get their name on the scoresheet on this night.
MARNER, MATTHEWS SCORE ONLY TWO GOALS OF SECOND FRAME AS LEAFS' POWER PLAY STAYS WHITE-HOT
Marner and centre Auston Matthews have been two of the Leafs' most productive players on offence thus far this season, and they underscored that fact in the second period against Detroit. Marner gave Toronto its first lead of the evening just two minutes into the middle frame:

Once again, Detroit failed to clear the zone prior to Marner's goal, and Leafs centre John Tavares (who had the secondary assist on Rielly's first-period marker) kept the offensize-zone play alive before the puck came to winger Zach Hyman, who made a crisp pass across the ice directly in front of Howard and found Marner, who instantly batted it over the goal line for his third goal of the year.

Five minutes and thirty seconds after Marner's go-ahead goal, the Leafs used their highly-potent power play to stake out a two-goal lead.

Matthews took a pass from Rielly near the top of the circle, moved in a stride or two, then beat Howard short-side for his eighth-goal. The goal also made Matthews the third player in team history to score in each game of Toronto's first five games in a season. And it showed yet again how much power there's been in the Leafs' power play so far this year.
WINGS KEEP PULLING WITHIN A GOAL OF TYING IT, BUT ANOTHER PP GOAL FROM MATTHEWS, AND EMPTY-NETTER FROM HAINSEY, SEALS LEAFS' VICTORY
The Red Wings had played three games prior to Thursday's game, and although they were still looking for their first win of the season as they faced the Leafs, they'd also forced two of three games beyond regulation time, so it was clear they could still rebound from a two-goal deficit to the Leafs and take them to overtime or a shootout. That likelihood increased halfway through the third person, when Nick Jensen netted his second goal of the night at the 10:18 mark.

Unfortunately for Detroit fans, the Wings gave the Leafs another power play opportunity at 11:01 of the frame, and 10 seconds into the man advantage, Matthews scored his second power play of the night to put Toronto ahead 4-2:

Tavares got the primary assist (and his third assist of the game) by taking the puck and making a behind-the-back pass through traffic that landed on Matthews' stick. Seconds later, Matthews had his league-leading ninth goal of the season, Tavares had his third assist of the night (and his ninth point of the year), and Marner had another assist for a three-point night.
Again, the Wings attempted to come back with a goal by Dylan Larkin at 13:56, but, with Detroit's net empty, blueliner Ron Hainsey scored his second goal in as many games to finally seal the victory at 19:39 of the third (and Tavares added yet another assist to finish the game with four helpers).
The Leafs will square off with Washington Saturday to finish off their road trip. And though most teams will have a challenge trying to win against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, Toronto's group is currently functioning at an incredible level on offence and promise to give the Capitals their toughest test yet this year.