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After scoring consecutive hat tricks in wins over Montreal and Minnesota, it would have been a crime hadn’t Auston Matthews been awarded NHL First Star of the Week. The Leafs star center beat out Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin, who each scored six points in the first week of the season, but Matthews topped them by scoring six goals in wins over the Habs and Wild, including his 300th career goal with the Leafs.
Matthews and the Leafs hope to continue their scoring prowess on Monday, as they take on 2023 top overall pick Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks at Scotiabank Arena on Monday.
Second goal of the day for Nick Robertson brings him to five points in just two games. This guy is an NHL player if he can find a way to stay healthy.#LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/Xm3py72ytb
The 18-year-old phenom has not seemed phased by the NHL through three games, scoring his first NHL goal in Boston last week and adding two assists in three games. The game features former Leafs Nick Foligno and Petr Mrazek, who is expected to get the start after making 33 saves in a 3-2 loss in Montreal on Saturday.
On the Leafs side, head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated that Joseph Woll will make the start against the Hawks. The 25-year-old played excellent in short stints during the regular season and playoffs for the Leafs and could have a chance at earning more playing time than a normal backup with Ilya Samsonov slow out of the gate this season.
He's been consistent, he’s stayed healthy.” Keefe said on Sunday. “He looks way more comfortable, like he knows he belongs here now. I think he’s earned that through his play last season. And he’s given us no reason to doubt that from his performance through camp and pre-season.”
Keefe is going with the same lineup, but is making one line change, shifting Calle Jarnkrok up to play left wing on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander, while Max Domi slots in on the right side with Matthew Knies and Fraser Minten.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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