Connor Brownshouldn’t be so modest.

The rookie Maple Leafs winger’s goal against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night not only was his eighth of the season, but also his eighth point in six games.

Brown, who has 17 points in 37 games, agreed with the notion that he is finding his stride in the National Hockey League.

As diligent a worker as Brown is, and not to mention skilled, he couldn’t help but bring linemate Auston Matthews into the conversation.

“I think playing with 34 helps,” Brown said. “He creates a lot out there and I feel as if our line is jelling. We have a lot of O-zone time and it’s leading to points and offence.”

The four shots on goal Brown registered in the Leafs’ 6-5 overtime loss versus the Caps tied his season high, a mark he had hit in three previous games.

THE GOAT SETTLES IN

As much as Brown is finding a rhythm, so is fellow freshman Frederik Gauthier.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Gauthier scored his second goal on Tuesday and is getting more comfortable with each game he plays.

In seven games since being recalled from the Toronto Marlies, Gauthier has two goals and one assist. Importantly, he has held his own in the faceoff circle, winning 47.7% (42 of 88) of the faceoffs he has taken. When the Leafs are shorthanded, Gauthier has won 13 draws and lost 20. Overall, he is earning the trust of coach Mike Babcock and the staff.

“The first few games after I was called up, I was getting my feet wet and it took a while,” Gauthier said. “It was getting used to the higher, faster pace. I’m not quite there yet (fully), but it’s getting better.”

Gauthier, naturally, is happy with the timing of his opportunity with the Leafs, as his dad Stephane was able to join other fathers for the trip to Washington and New Jersey.

“It’s the first time I’ve had my dad on a trip like this,” the younger Gauthier said. “It’s nice for him to see how (an NHL player’s life) is. It’s rewarding for him for all that he has done for me.”

Gauthier’s two goals, meanwhile, are one more than he had in 17 games this season with the Marlies.

LOOSE LEAFS

The Leafs had ice booked at the Prudential Center for a Wednesday afternoon practice, but they were given the day off by Babcock. While the Leafs are staying in New Jersey, many were planning to head into Manhattan with their dads. “We can get regrouped, we have had lots of things going on here, we have had a good run on the road,” Babcock said. “That’s six games on the road we have got points in, five we have won.” Truth be told, it’s seven road games in a row in which the Leafs have gained at least one point, starting on Dec. 3 in Vancouver when they lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Canucks. The Leafs will practise at the Prudential Center on Thursday morning in preparation for the game on Friday night against the New Jersey Devils … When Matthews scored his 20th goal in his 36th game on Sunday in the Centennial Classic, he became just the third NHL rookie since 1993 to reach 20 goals no more than 36 games into his career. The others were the Capitals’Alex Ovechkin, who did so in his 33rd game in 2005-06, and Petr Prucha, who was playing for the New York Rangers in 2005-06 when he hit 20 goals in 36 games … The road situation is not nearly as rosy down on the farm. The Marlies lost 2-1 in Winnipeg against the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday, dropping their road record to 4-11-1-1, and overall, the Marlies had won just two games in their past 10. The Marlies and Moose were scheduled to meet again on Wednesday night in Winnipeg … Ovechkin’s game-winning goal against the Leafs was the 94th of his career, tying him with Steve Yzerman for 12th in NHL history. Ovechkin had been in a tie for 13th withJohnny Bucyk,Sergei Fedorov andJoe Nieuwendyk.