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The Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back from a slow start in a 7-3 comeback victory over the Winnipeg Jets at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, with their special teams providing the winning margin and with leading scorer Auston Matthews being the first Leaf to reach the 50-goal plateau in 28 years.
Auston Matthews, after getting a post-game celebratory shower from teammates following his 50th goal. #Leafspic.twitter.com/kEcMgr3UxW
William Nylander tallied twice, Mark Giordano, John Tavares, Ilya Mikheyev, Timothy Liljegren, and Matthews scored for Toronto, and Erik Kallgren made 20 saves in the Leafs third win in a row. After falling behind 2-0, Toronto responded with seven of the next eight goals, three of which (Nylander and Liljegren) were on the power play, and Mikheyev’s while short-handed.
Matthews had six shots on goal and numerous scoring chances on the night, and finally broke through with Jets goalie Eric Comrie pulled for the extra attacker late in the third period.
“I had some good looks, but not sure if I ever envisioned (the 50th) being an empty net goal but I’ll take it, a goal’s a goal. I had some good chances tonight, just wasn’t going in and fortunately it did in the last minute.” Matthews said after the game. “I got pretty soaked, lots of water and stuff, but it’s awesome. The love and support from all these guys, we’ve got an extremely close group. This obviously doesn’t happen without all these guys on this team, so it means a lot.”
The victory keeps Toronto two points ahead of the Boston Bruins, who kept pace with an 8-1 shellacking of New Jersey on Thursday, and moves them one point ahead of idle Tampa Bay into second place in the Atlantic Division.
The Leafs practiced in Etobicoke, ON before departing for Philadelphia to take on the Flyers in the first of their four-game road trip on Saturday, and head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated that Jack Campbell will get the start in goal.
“He’s looked good, he’s battled to keep the puck out of the net (in practice), he just looks like he’s refreshed,” Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Obviously, we wished he remained healthy, but there are some positives that come with being able to take some time away.”
Ilya Lyubushkin took part in practice on Friday with partner Morgan Rielly after missing Thursday’s game with neck pain and is expected to return to the lineup. Jake Muzzin is traveling with the club and is inching closer to returning, but Keefe did not specify when.
Alex Kerfoot was given a maintenance day on Friday but is expected to play against the Flyers, Colin Blackwell will take Jason Spezza’s spot on the fourth line, and rookie Nick Abruzzese will make his NHL debut on Saturday.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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