Jets Fall 4-2 to Leafs, Enter Bye Week on Three-Game Losing Streak

For the second time in four nights, the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs squared off in a marquee Hockey Night in Canada matchup. 

This time, it was a sellout crowd at Canada Life Centre, but the result was the same, a dagger from Auston Matthews and a victory by the Maple Leafs - this time by a way of a 4-1 final - sending Winnipeg spiralling into a miniature three-game losing streak.

"You play like we did in Toronto, you hope you get rewarded and get something out of it and win that game," head coach Rick Bownesssaid. "We didn’t. So, yeah, the break’s coming at a good time. The guys that are banged up need a rest. We need to get Mark back, there’s no question about that.”

Dylan Samberg opened the scoring for the home team rather early, as his long-range wrist shot found its way through a heavily screen Ilya Samsonov. Vlad Namestnikov provided the traffic in front, as Samberg's first in 77 games fooled the Leafs' backstop. 

As a matter of fact, the goal came on Winnipeg's first shot of the game, while Toronto had already put up four at that point. 

For the second-straight game, the Jets lost a defenceman for the night, as Brenden Dillon went down with an upper-body injury and did not return to action. On Wednesday, it was Josh Morrissey who left with a mid-body injury, also in the first period. 

It took until the last minute of the frame for anything else of relevance to incur. And did things ever take off. 

First, it was hometown product Ryan Reaves - who drew into the lineup for the first time over a month - who redirected his second of the season past an out-of-position Connor Hellebuyck, perfectly tipping home a Noah Gregor shot.

Then, just 29 seconds later, Tyler Bertuzzi jammed home a rebound on a play immediately deemed to be no-goal. The officials conversed and the ruling was upheld, while Toronto was charged a two-minute delay of game penalty for challenging the play that appeared to be Dylan DeMelo crosschecking William Nylander into Hellebuyck. 

The ensuing power play saw a great opportunity on a Kyle Connor one-timer, but it was veteran defenceman Mark Giordano putting up a timely blocked shot, as Samsonov scrambled for position. 

Toronto came out flying in the second period, outshooting the Jets 10-1 through the first eight minutes. 

The Leafs then took two-straight penalties, who which Winnipeg's horrendous power play put up two more duds. Morrissey did hit the post on a wide-open net, but that was the closest the Jets would get. The team is now 2/31 in its past nine games. 

Toronto outshot Winnipeg 22-19 through 40 minutes of play. 

The offensive efforts paid off early in the third, as the Leafs were rewarded with Dylan DeMelo in the box on a tripping minor. 

Just 13 seconds in the power play, John Tavares tipped home a Morgan Rielly point shot, putting Toronto in front legally for the first time on the night. 

After being given an opportunity to tie the game on a Matthew Knies hooking call, the Jets' began a steady parade to the penalty box themselves. 

First, it was Nino Niederreiter who was handed an interference penalty, before Dylan Samberg was nailed with a slashing minor just 30 seconds later. The Leafs took a timeout and capitalized just 19 seconds later. 

Once again it was Auston Matthews who found another game-finisher, as he hammered home his 40th of the season on the ensuing 5-on-3.

Simon Beniot put the icing on the cake for Toronto, firing the puck the length of the ice into the empty net, before Mason Appleton jammed one home in garbage time, but it was ultimately a 4-2 final for Toronto. 

"You know what? I think the best thing is a little mental reset," captain Adam Lowry said. "I think this is kind of one of the first blocks of adversity we've faced this year. Certainly you can let some frustration creep in. I think being able to get away from the game, analyze where we're at, where we've been, what we've been doing well in some of these games, and what we can improve upon, then come back energized again. I think that's the great thing that this break comes at this time. I think we all know over the last couple weeks that we can play better."

Hellebuyck finished the night with 26 stops on the 29 Leafs shots he faced, while Samsonov made 24 saves on the 26 pucks fired his way by Winnipeg.

Both teams now head into their league-mandated bye weeks, which coincide with the annual All-Star weekend. The Jets are back in action on February 6 in Pittsburgh. That game features a 6:00 PM central start time and can be viewed live on TSN.