Tavares, Nylander, Marner, and Matthews come together to put the Maple Leafs over the Central Division-leading Stars.
Tavares, Nylander, Marner, and Matthews come together to put the Maple Leafs over the Central Division-leading Stars.
It was a power play bonanza for Toronto on Wednesday night.
Three man advantages, three successful opportunities, plus two five-on-five goals, and the Maple Leafs send the Dallas Stars to Montreal with a 5-4 loss.
Ilya Samsonov allowed three goals but came up with the huge saves, when needed, to secure his ninth win of the season.
William Nylander opened the scoring for Toronto on the power play. His 24th goal of the season ends a four-game goalless drought and puts the Maple Leafs up 1-0 over Dallas.
Eight minutes later, Tyler Bertuzzi would take a high-sticking penalty, giving the Stars their second power play opportunity of the game. Eight seconds into power play, Jamie Benn puts it by Ilya Samsonov to tie the game at one.
Evgenii Dadonov would add another goal for Dallas in the first period. The 34-year-old forward blows by Jake McCabe before sliding the puck through Samsonov's five-hole to put the Dallas Stars up 2-1.
Dadonov cuts to the middle, easily getting past McCabe before also comfortably sliding the puck under Samsonov — a goal the netminder likely wanted to have back.
Heading into the first intermission, it was all Dallas. Shots were 11-4 for the Stars an they even had a 91.73 xGF% as they headed to the dressing room after period one, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.
Maple Leafs head coach made a couple of changes to begin the second period, pairing Timothy Liljegren with Jake McCabe while slotting Simon Benoit beside Mark Giordano.
Toronto would continue their power play scoring in period number two. Five seconds into the man advantage, after some nice passing, John Tavares buries it for his 15th goal of the year, tying the game at two.
After not scoring in 10-straight games, the Maple Leafs captain is now on a three-game goal scoring streak.
Pontus Holmberg would draw a hooking penalty after some strong individual work entering the zone, giving the Maple Leafs their third power play of the night.
Auston Matthews would be the latest scorer on the power play, allowing them to be three for three in the game. The 26-year-old's pass to Nylander would bounce off Esa Lindell's foot and behind Scott Wedgewood, handing Matthews his 41st goal in just 48 games this season.
(It's also his 27th goal in his last 27 games.)
Credit to him and Tavares on the goal as they both use their defensive instincts to take the puck off Jani Hakanpaa before he can clear it out of the Stars' zone.
Dallas would tie the game off a Dadonov penalty shot goal in the third period, but immediately after, the Maple Leafs' core four would strike back.
First, it's Marner, who receives a tough pass and then buries it on Wedgewood for his 22nd goal of the season. A massive goal for the 26-year-old as he gives the Maple Leafs the lead once again.
20 seconds later, Nylander would get on the board with his second of the game and 25th goal of the year. Some great individual work from Tavares who carries the puck before dishing it to Nylander for the goal.
Wyatt Johnston would add a goal for Dallas, but the Stars wouldn't be able to come back and the Maple Leafs win 5-4 in Scotiabank Arena.
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