Maybe the coach wasn’t the problem.

It turns out that Todd McLellan can watch Mitch Marner put on a show against the Detroit Red Wings just like any other man in a suit.

And much like the home team’s season, by the time Friday’s game was a third of the way through, it seemed like it was already over.

On the strength of Marner’s second career natural hat trick – both of which occurred at Little Caesars Arena, home of the Dark Ages of Detroit – the Toronto Maple Leafs returned from the Christmas break and immediately jumped back into the win column, defeating the Red Wings 5–2 .

Marner’s 18 goals in 27 games against Detroit represent the most goals he has ever scored against an NHL opponent, and the winger’s fourth three-point night ties him with Connor McDavid for sixth overall in the scoring race (49th). points).

After Marner picked up the slack and led Toronto’s offense, the Leafs improved to 8-4 in their captain’s absence.

Marner scored multiple points in all eight wins without Matthews, and 10 of Marner’s 13 goals this season came when its leading scorer failed to step up.

“His hockey sense is world class,” John Tavares told reporters. “Whether Auston is there or not, what Mitchy does for us and the way he plays is incredible and we are really lucky to have him.”

“They’ve got some pretty special players over there, four or five,” Patrick Kane said. “And it seems like they’re playing a more disciplined game too.”

That discipline led to clean breakouts and some sustained stretches in the O-zone that led to Marner’s two one-time goals and a slick, well-timed tip home.

Of Marner’s three goals, however, Tavares’ blind backhand pass between the legs was the best.

“He can do a lot of things,” Marner said. “That’s a great game from him.”

The catch is that this was intended as a piece of evidence for the Wings for McLellan.

“There’s always some sort of reaction when something like this happens,” Morgan Rielly predicted before the game.

“The players definitely want to impress the coach,” added Toronto coach Craig Berube. “It’s kind of a new version of hockey life.”

Unfortunately, in Detroit the new lease comes with roughly the same interest rates as the old one.

Steve Yzerman will celebrate his six-year anniversary as GM this spring.

Since the Hall of Famer took over, the Red Wings have never won more games than they lost in a single season. The magnificent Little Caesars barn has never hosted a playoff game. Now Yzerman’s squad is taking a step backwards from its encouraging 91-point 2023-24 season.

With the firing of Derek Lalonde (89-86-23) on Boxing Day and his replacement by McLellan, Yzerman is his third and most expensive head coach. (McLellan was fired mid-season last winter and sat at home receiving $5.5 million for not coaching the LA Kings.)

“Everyone is frustrated,” Yzerman said. “You can see it in the players’ faces.”

You can also see it in the manager’s body language and feel it in his rambling answers during Friday’s 31-minute press conference. He is looking for answers and now believes his squad is more talented than it showed under Lalonde.

So Yzerman – previously rumored to be interested in Jim Montgomery – turned to a coach he had known since 2005. McLellan sat on Mike Babcock’s bench during Yzerman’s final season and was one of the most experienced options available.

“You start to feel the frustration, the will that is being taken away from everyone,” Yzerman said. “It felt like now was the time to do it.”

With Auston Matthews’ continued absence, both Rielly and Tavares spoke of the need for improved checking and stronger starts – aspects of the Leafs’ game that faltered in losing their last two games before Christmas.

“The energy should be back,” Berube said.

McLellan’s debut was less than two and a half minutes old, and the Maple Leafs had already scored, and the new coach was experiencing life as a Red Wing and trying to catch up.

“The team can play harder,” McLellan said. “It just can.”

Marner’s hat trick created too much gap, and two late Red Wings goals from Lucas Raymond and Simon Evinsson only narrowed the lead.

The Maple Leafs head home to face a healthy Alex Ovechkin and the rested and ready Washington Capitals in a much tougher test on Saturday night.

• Although Matthews will benefit from the three-day break, he will miss his fourth straight game (and 13th overall) against Washington on Saturday as he treats an undisclosed upper-body injury.

“He’s doing better,” assures Berube. “That’s all I can give you, to be honest.”

One has to imagine that the idea of ​​putting the captain on LTIR before the playoffs (à la Mark Stone or Nikita Kucherov) and maximizing cap flexibility and trade options is at least being considered behind closed doors.

• A hard-fought game from the Maple Leafs defense.

Chris Tanev (who was back in action after missing the Dec. 23 loss to Winnipeg), Rielly, Simon Benoit and Jake McCabe (whose tooth fragments had to be recovered from his mouth guard) all fought through some painful shot blocks.

The Leafs beat Detroit 17-9, and they will feel it.

• Max Pacioretty was honest about the value of being away from the hockey rink for three full days. The abbreviated pre-Christmas schedule took a toll on his 36-year-old muscles — and the NHL product in general.

“I definitely needed it. This schedule became hectic for our group and it definitely showed in our play,” Pacioretty said. “It was nice to relax and spend time with the family.

“It was obvious that every team there needed a little break…. We played a lot of hockey.”

• Rielly has played at least 85 five-on-five minutes with three different partners and at least 20 minutes with seven partners this season.

He won’t complain, but finding a consistent pairing is a recurring theme.

“I like to think I can take on as much responsibility as I’m given,” Rielly said. “And I expect myself to be able to handle any situation.”

• David Kämpf celebrated his 500th career NHL game with his first goal of the season.