If it was a statement game, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a strong case for the title of Canada's best team Wednesday night.
And they did it with ruthless efficiency, containing and frustrating Winnipeg's offensive stars while forcing the Winnipeg Jets to chase them in the defensive zone for much of the opening 40 minutes.
The Leafs, cheered on by a noisy fan contingent at Bell MTS Place, cruised to a 3-0 lead midway through the second period on goals by Kasperi Kapanen, Tyler Ennis and Nazem Kadri and held off a late Jets' push to post a 4-2 victory.