Matthews buries pair, Leafs down Jets 4-1
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their second straight and improve to 10-1-1 in their last 12 at home. The Leafs take the season series against the Winnipeg Jets with two 4-1 wins.
Ilya Samsonov got the start in this one after taking the net from Matt Murray Tuesday in relief. He had a solid game making 37 saves on 38 shots. He improves his home record to an incredible 12-0-1 record.
Toronto was out shot 16-6 in the first period, but Auston Matthews opened the second, eight seconds in with a beautiful move to dance around Jets Mark Scheifele, and fire it five hole on Vezina trophy favourite Connor Hellebuyck.
Just three minutes and thirty-eight seconds later he fired one of his patented wristers from the slot to make it 2-0 Leafs. Matthews, now at 24 goals, has scored in his last four games and moved his point streak to eight games, scoring seven goals and four assists for 11 points.
Mitch Marner extended his home point streak to 20 games with a short-handed breakaway goal. Marner stole the puck from Scheifele at the blue line and went down on a 2-on-1, firing the puck glove side. Marner’s streak is the longest in the NHL in 20 years, Sidney Crosby had a 19-game streak at home in 2010-11.
Kyle Connor scored the Jets lone goal in the third on the powerplay. Defenceman Josh Morrissey assisted on the tally, making him the second defenceman this season to hit 50 points. San Jose Shark Erik Karlsson leads the way with 62.
Mark Giordano scored his second of the season on the net to give the Leafs the 4-1 win.
Toronto this season have been unbelievable at home. They improve to 17-3-4 at Scotiabank Arena. They have just two regulation loses since November 11th.
They head to Montreal for an original six matchup against the Canadians, Saturday night.
TOR Scoring: Matthews (23), Matthews (24), Marner SH (17), Giordano EN (2)
WPG Scoring: Connor PP (23)