TORONTO (AP) — Captain Auston Matthews shook off a slump with a goal and two assists and Matthew Nice scored twice to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 7-5 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.
Matthews, scoreless in four games, made his first three-pointer of the season. He assisted on William Nylander’s opener on the power play, assisted on Bobby McMahon’s go-ahead score early in the second period, and scored on the next play to give Toronto a 4-2 lead.
advertise
The Senators tied the game twice, but the Knicks won the second time with 14:07 left.
The Maple Leafs took a 2-0 lead after a power-play goal from the Knicks. But Ottawa’s Nick Cousins scored late in the first quarter and Ridley Gregg tied the game with 18 seconds left in the second.
Toronto then scored three goals before the end of the second period from McMahon, Matthews and Nick Robertson. But Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle scored 5:07 into the third period to tie the game at one.
Max Domi enjoyed a three-assist game. Ottawa’s Claude Giroux played in his 1,300th career game and had two assists.
advertise
The Maple Leafs defeated the visiting team 33-31. Linus Ullmark was substituted in favor of substitute Leevi Merilainen after Matthews’ goal. Joseph Woll had a great performance to earn his seventh win in 12 games.
Nylander left the game with an undisclosed injury after his third shift in the second quarter. He has missed four games this season after missing just one game the past four years.
After 210 AHL regular season games, former Edmonton Oilers first round pick Xavier Bourgault made his NHL debut for the Senators.
Next
Senators: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.
Maple Leafs: Visit the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
___
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL
