Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their three-game losing skid with a wildly entertaining 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, but unlike their loss on Tuesday, Toronto was able to come out on top in spite of another great performance from Connor Hellebuyck.
Auston Matthews scored his league-leading 21st goal of the season at 0:59 of overtime to give the Leafs their first victory when trailing after 40 minutes. Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Ilya Mikheyev also scored for Toronto and Frederik Andersen made 24 saves in the victory that moves the Leafs six points up on the Jets for top spot in the North Division.
AUSTON MATTHEWS 🚨
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 12, 2021
OVERTIME WINNER! BEAUTY! pic.twitter.com/BN7hrpnCRP
The Leafs led 3-2 late in the third after Nylander and Mikheyev tallied to erase a Winnipeg lead courtesy of a pair of goals from Nikolaj Ehlers, but could not hold the advantage as Paul Stastny tied the game on a deflection with Hellebuyck pulled for an extra attacker.
Toronto survived an early Winnipeg opportunity in the extra frame when Morgan Rielly’s stick was broken, as Marner made a phenomenal defensive play to prevent a goalmouth pass and and started an odd-man rush that resulted in Matthews winner.
“It was just a lot of chaos. I can’t really walk you through it, it happened so fast. Mitch made a nice play.… Matthews said after the game. “(Winnipeg’s) guys had been out there for a while. I think everybody was just really tired. We had a little 2-on-1 and (Rielly) made a really nice pass to me. I just tried to sell shot and take it to the backhand and try to find some open net.… The Vezina Trophy winner (and likely starter for Team USA for the Olympics next February) was the story for most of the night, with a number of incredible saves that frustrated the Leafs to no end. Hellebuyck made 34 saves in the contest, and appeared to have the number of Nylander (who led Toronto with six shots on goal), until he finally broke through with the game-tying goal early in the third on a nice setup from John Tavares.
“(Nylander) just looked determined, determined to score, determined to make a difference.… Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “He’s been all over the net making plays, doing a lot of good things with the puck and a ton of opportunities to score and then a great individual effort by JT to find him and that’s a great shot. It’s not an easy shot to make across the body like that as a righty. To bury it like that, that’s just another big time goal and I just thought he really worked well away from the puck today. A lot of times he was getting back, stripping guys, creating turnovers in the neutral zone. Those are the types of things we need from him consistently. Today I thought he was a real difference maker.…
WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 12, 2021
FINALLY! LET'S GO! TIE GAME! pic.twitter.com/YR6YIvg5tY
The Leafs will complete the three-game set with the Jets on Saturday before heading to Ottawa for the second of back-to-back games on Sunday.
*******
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******