When it comes to momentum, an 8-1-1 sprint to finish the first half of the regular season has made the Maple Leafs arguably the hottest team in the National Hockey League.

But the impressive run cuts far deeper than just a won-lost record. As such, here is a breakdown by the numbers of Toronto’s current sizzling stint:

The Leafs have collected at least one point in 10 consecutive road games.

Rookie Auston Matthews has 13 points (6-7-13) in the past 10 games.

has 13 points (6-7-13) in the past 10 games. Nazem Kadri has seven points (5-2-7) in his past five games.

has seven points (5-2-7) in his past five games. Rookie Connor Brown has scored five goals in the past six games.

has scored five goals in the past six games. James van Riemsdyk has 11 points (2-9-11) in the past seven games.

has 11 points (2-9-11) in the past seven games. Rookie Mitch Marner has six assists in the past three games.

has six assists in the past three games. The Leafs have scored at least one power play goal in five consecutive games.

QUICK ON THE DRAW



The flashes of magic from young Matthews continued Saturday with the Leafs up 3-2 in the third period.



During a stoppage in play, the 2016 first overall pick verbally diagrammed a play for Brown: From the faceoff, he would try to swat the puck ahead, hunt it down, then look for Brown in the slot.



Seconds later, Brown one-timed the puck into the net for a much-needed insurance goal in the exact fashion Matthews had spelled out for him.



“A lot of the time when you go forward like that it’s a loss,” Brown said, “but I’ve played with one other guy other than Matthews that could do it — (Connor) McDavid — so I’ve been on the right end of those.”



Brown’s goal came on his 23rd birthday. He played with McDavid with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters.



As for Matthews, he understandably was pleased that all played out to perfection. “It doesn’t always work out that way,” he said.



Added Matthews: “We kind of planned it beforehand – I said I was going forward and he found a really good spot. I kind of just knew where he was going to be and he put it in a really nice spot there on his goal. Like I said, it was a really nice insurance goal for us late there in the third.”



Coach Mike Babcock’s take on the play?



“They just wanted to get in on the action, they weren’t great through two,” Babcock said. “We talked about it after two — it doesn’t matter if you’re good or bad, this is what the game’s about.



“It’s fun to be in these situations. You’ve got to be good in the third. It was a big play for us.”



BIG MAC ATTACK



With the Leafs struggling at the backup goaltending position for much of the season, Curtis McElhinney’s 35-save performance Saturday spawned hope that the issue had finally been alleviated.



“(He) was unbelievable,” Kadri said. “He played great and gave us an opportunity to win the game. That first star was definitely well deserved.



“He’s a big guy, he moves laterally pretty well and seems very athletic. Definitely a solid debut.”



McElhinney was plucked off waivers by the Leafs on Tuesday after being made available by the Columbus Blue Jackets.



“You know he has been in the league a long time,” Babcock said. “You know he is a good guy and a good pro and he’s calm and believes he can get the job done. I think that’s a big part of it right there is, as a goalie, you want to be in there and know you’re going to get the job done.



“Lou(Lamoriello) did a real good job in getting it looked after and acquiring him. It has been an issue for us, having someone to put in the net there, and obviously this was a big step.”