Max Domi and William Nylander broke their goalless droughts, helping the Maple Leafs end their three-game losing streak, as Toronto defeated Pittsburgh 6-3 in a Tuesday matinee at Scotiabank Arena.
With the fingers of the organization hovering over the panic button, the Leafs battled hard against the pesky Penguins for a much-needed win.
Nylander opened the scoring for Toronto at the 9:07 mark of the first period. The slumping winger broke his 12-game scoring dry spell by intercepting a Penguins pass at the Leafs’ blue line, creating a breakaway, and then tucking the puck past Stuart Skinner to make it 1-0.
The celebration was short-lived, however. Bryan Rust evened the score for the Penguins 44 seconds later, finishing off a breakaway of his own to tie the game.
Toronto re-took the lead at 13:34. Matias Maccelli notched his 5th of the season, from a shot that deflected off Penguins’ defenceman Parker Wotherspoon’s stick and past Skinner.
The Leafs took their 2-1 lead into the locker room and extended the margin 7:38 into the second period. Steven Lorentz scored his 4th of the season on another breakaway and a couple of pokes to get the puck by Skinner.
Pittsburgh fought back again, closing the gap to 3-2 at 11:43. Toronto failed to clear the zone after several attempts, and the puck eventually ended up on the stick of Rutger McGroarty, who blasted it by Joseph Woll.
The Penguins then tied the game one minute into the third. Anthony Mantha ripped a wrist shot from outside the circles that snuck through Woll’s Pads to make it 3-3.
But with the feeling of despair in the air, Max Domi made an end-to-end rush, knifed through three Pittsburgh defenders, and beat Skinner, ending his 23-game scoreless streak and putting the Leafs back in front for good.
Bobby McMann and Nylander would add empty net goals to push the final out to 6-3 and put an exclamation mark on the victory.
Next up: Toronto takes on the Senators Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.
