Matthews scored the opening goal — his 38th in 44 games this season — before Robertson added the game-winner in the second period.
Matthews scored the opening goal — his 38th in 44 games this season — before Robertson added the game-winner in the second period.
The Buffalo Bills might've lost on Sunday night, but the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't.
While there wasn't a conference championship berth on the line for the Maple Leafs like their neighbors south on the Queen Elizabeth Expressway, it was a massive game for Toronto after falling in two of their three games on the Western Canadian road trip. Similar to last weekend's back-to-back for Toronto, it was Mark Giordano being taken out of the lineup for Conor Timmins.
Also returning to the fold was Nick Robertson, who's been in and out of the lineup as of late, coming in for Bobby McMann.
While it was a sizeable test for the team itself, it was also time to evaluate Ilya Samsonov in his second game since being placed on waivers at the beginning of 2024.
Evaluation successful. With flying colors.
Fiesty would be the right word to describe the opening 10 minutes of the game. Timmins' cross-check on Brandon Tanev was the spark that lit the flame. The Kraken forward was red-hot after the incident and eventually dropped the gloves with Jake McCabe.
Shortly before the two dropped the gloves, Auston Matthews, to no one's surprise, got Toronto on the board.
Back on the top line, Matthew Knies works hard to get the puck down low to Mitch Marner, who finds Matthews in front. He puts it between his legs and squeaks it through the tiny space between Joey Daccord's pad and the post.
Matthews' 38th goal of the season puts Toronto up 1-0 in the first period. The tally also pushes him past Frank Mahovlich for eighth place on Toronto's all-time scoring list with 598 points, per the Maple Leafs.
If there's anyone who needed a strong game on Sunday, it's Samsonov. After he stops the initial shot, the 26-year-old extends the pad to make a massive save on Jaden Schwartz.
Going into Sunday's game against Seattle, Robertson had three goals in his last five games from Dec. 29 to Jan. 14. Although it's been a week since his last game, the 22-year-old remained ready for the opportunity to return to the lineup.
Nearly three minutes into the second period, Robertson would finish off a passing play which involved Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi.
With the goal which put the Maple Leafs up 2-0 over Seattle, Robertson has four goals in his last six games.
But with 5:57 remaining in the second period, Seattle would get Kraken.
A shot hits Jared McCann in front of the Maple Leafs' net, and Jordan Eberle finds the loose puck — as Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie scavenge for it — and puts it into the wide-open net.
It's an obscure play for Brodie, who should've had Eberle in front. However, it's McCann who makes a strong play — after the puck hits him — to find Eberle and shovel him the puck as Brodie continues searching for it.
Nevertheless, it was a sturdy first half defensively for Toronto, who limited Seattle to just seven shots through the first 30 minutes of play.
And again, when the Maple Leafs needed Samsonov, he was there to make the hefty saves.
He made another enormous save in the third period to keep the Maple Leafs up by a goal.
Samsonov would allow just one goal on 17 shots for his first win since Dec. 9. McCabe would add an empty-netter for his second goal in as many games as Toronto ends their lengthy road trip with a 3-1 win over Seattle.
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