They didn’t give John Tavares a ceremonial golden stick just for show. Article content

The Maple Leafs alternate captain, honoured before Wednesday’s game against the Utah Mammoth for his 500th NHL goal, added No. 501 for the go-ahead 5-3 winner at Scotiabank Arena. Article content Article content

Coming through his office in the slot, Tavares had impeccable timing for a Bobby McMann pass that eluded two defenders. It was the seventh of the season for the 35-year-old Tavares and gave Toronto its first three-game winning streak.

Former Mammoth winger Matias Maccelli capped his own two-point game with an insurance marker, preceded by great cycling from Dakota Joshua . Matthew Knies potted an empty netter, before Dyaln Guenther closed the scoring for Utah.

The Leafs had all the m

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