Leafs Notebook: A 5-2-1 start despite Matthews & Marner’s mediocrity together at five-on-five

Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple LeafsThrough nearly 10 percent of the season, the Maple Leafs are sitting with a 5-2-1 record and a plus-five goal differential.

Their longest road trip of the season is already behind them, and they went a promising 3-1-1 with a real chance to win all five games. To have it in the rear-view mirror with seven points in the bank is no small feat.

Last season, the Leafs finished October with a 4-4-2 record and a minus-three goal differential. Their penalty kill was struggling at just over 75 percent. Sheldon Keefe was perplexed by the early performance, calling the team out after losing with under a minute left against Montreal in the season opener.…