Auston Matthews’ hat trick sparks Leafs’ comeback vs. Jets
Auston Matthews registered three goals and an assist Thursday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs overcame a three-goal deficit to defeat the visiting Winnipeg Jets 6-5.
Matthews completed his hat trick by knocking in a loose puck at 15:38 of the third period to snap a 5-5 tie, sending the Jets to their eighth consecutive loss (0-5-3).
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Matias Maccelli each added a goal and an assist to help the Maple Leafs earn their second straight win. Troy Stecher also scored.
Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll allowed four goals on 18 shots before Dennis Hildeby took over during the second period. Hildeby stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced.
Mark Scheifele produced two goals and an assist while Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and assist for the Jets. Dylan DeMelo and Alex Iafallo also scored, and Eric Comrie stopped 24 shots.
After the Jets went up 4-1 in the second period, Ekman-Larsson scored from the slot at 11:04 of the middle frame following a Winnipeg turnover.
Matthews scored from the high slot on a power play at 19:57 of the second to cut the deficit to one. Neal Pionk was off for interference.
Maccelli tied the game with a laser from the left circle at 6:30 of the third period.
Winnipeg regained the lead on Scheifele's quick wrist shot from the right circle at 8:50 of the third during a power play. Max Domi was off for high-sticking.
Stecher pulled Toronto level again at 5-5 with a shot from the top of the left circle at 13:13.
The Jets scored at 14:09 of the first period off a rush that caught the Maple Leafs on a lazy line change. Scheifele stormed down the left wing and directed a cross-ice pass to Vilardi as the trailer and he ripped a shot from the inner edge of the right circle.
Winnipeg took a 2-0 lead at 17:38 of the first when DeMelo scored on a slapper from the right point that deflected off Matthews' stick.
Matthews tipped Domi's pass under the crossbar on a give-and-go to cut the lead in half at 1:34 of the second period.
Iafallo answered 37 seconds later on a whirling backhand from Jonathan Toews' pass.
Winnipeg led 4-1 when Scheifele scored from the doorstep at 5:24 of the second, prompting the Maple Leafs to replace Woll with Hildeby.