Auston Matthews lifts Maple Leafs over Ducks in shootout

Auston Matthews scored the shootout winner and the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired three power-play objectives Wednesday evening in a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Geese.

Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares all scored with the person benefit to provide Toronto a two-goal lead in a largely empty Scotiabank Enviornment due to COVID-19 restrictions.

However a late aim within the second interval by Jakob Silfverberg and one other from Geese ahead Vinni Lettieri when he redirected Kevin Shattenkirk’s level drive with 6:37 remaining within the third despatched the sport to additional time.

Sam Metal additionally was credited with a fluky aim for the Geese, and John Gibson made 41 saves. Anaheim performed with out head coach Dallas Eakins, who was sidelined because of COVID-19. Assistant coach Mike Stothers ran the bench in his absence.

Jason Spezza additionally transformed within the shootout and Jack Campbell earned his twentieth victory because the Maple Leafs (26-10-3) received for the third time in 5 video games. The Geese (21-16-8) had received two in a row.

The three power-play objectives gave the Maple Leafs 34 for the season. Solely the Colorado Avalanche (37) and St. Louis Blues (35) had extra getting into play Wednesday.

With three days off since their final recreation, a 3-1 street win in opposition to the New York Islanders, Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe blended up his traces in opposition to Anaheim.

He needed extra stability from his prime three items, so Keefe positioned Matthews, Marner and Nylander on separate traces.

“I don’t suppose it actually bothers anybody,” Tavares mentioned. “There’s quite a lot of chemistry on this locker room, and I feel everybody is able to play with anybody at any time.

“So that is one thing you could positively work with.”

Matthews centered Michael Bunting and Ondrej Kase. Marner skated alongside Tavares and Ilya Mikheyev. Nylander was the suitable facet with David Kampf and Alex Kerfoot.

“There have been quite a lot of stoppages, so it turned slightly more difficult,” Keefe mentioned. “We’re additionally making an attempt to get our fourth line going on the identical time.

“So we acquired three traces that we actually moved round. You’re making an attempt to get some traction and that group some chemistry.”

Toronto’s offense actually clicked when all the large scorers hopped over the boards for man-advantage conditions. The Maple Leafs outshot their opponents 44-20 and had a whopping 75 shot makes an attempt, with 14 misses and one other 17 blocked.

The Geese arrived on a roll after opening their five-game street swing with spectacular victories in opposition to the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins.

However the Maple Leafs had their method with Anaheim early on, outshooting the Geese 31-11 by means of 40 minutes.

Anaheim did handle to grab an early 1-0 lead with a lucky aim. Maple Leafs fourth-liner Pierre Engvall tried to comb away the puck from the Toronto crease, however his clearing try bounced off Spezza and into the web.

Metal was given credit score for the aim.

Gibson, who can be going to the NHL All-Star recreation subsequent week with Anaheim ahead Troy Terry, stored his workforce in entrance till the Maple Leafs struck for a pair of power-play objectives within the first.

Gibson made a superb left pad cease on Nylander, who didn’t knock in a rebound off the top boards halfway by means of the interval.

Marner scored for the fourth straight recreation with a bullet one-timer from 36 ft. Nylander transformed Tavares’ go from behind the web for a 2-1 lead.

The go-ahead aim was Nylander’s seventeenth of the season in his thirty ninth recreation, matching his 17-goal output in 51 video games final season.

Tavares put the Maple Leafs forward 3-1 with a 5-on-3 aim late within the second, slamming in Marner’s go.

However because the second penalty to Silfverberg expired, he jumped out of the field and scored on a 3-on-1 rush.

NOTES: Toronto was minus defenseman Jake Muzzin (concussion), whereas the Geese performed with out defenseman Josh Manson (COVID-19) and ahead Sonny Milano (higher physique). … Within the first, the Maple Leafs misplaced defenseman Timothy Liljegren after he fell awkwardly and hit his head whereas making an attempt to dump the puck into the Anaheim finish. He was stored out of the sport as a precaution. … Matthews, Tavares, Marner and Nylander accounted for 25 of Toronto’s 44 pictures on Gibson.

UP NEXT

Geese: Play at Montreal on Thursday evening.

Maple Leafs: Play at Detroit on Saturday evening.