The Maple Leafs staged a third-period comeback that led Auston Matthews to a new milestone.
When the third period began, the Maple Leafs were tailing the Devils in a 4-2 game. The Leafs lone two goals came from none other than Auston Matthews all the way back in the first period.
Despite being down 2-goals, the Leafs came back with some firepower to start the third. Jason Spezza scored just 4:16 in to get the Leafs within one. No matter how much time passes, Spezza’s snipes stay crisp as hell:
Almost 10-minutes after that, Mitch Marner, with the help of Matthews, tied it with his 12th goal of the season.
The Devils didn’t really stand a chance once this team got hot. Ilya Mikheyev, with a perfect pass from Alexander Kerfoot, brought on the Leafs’ lead just about 4 minutes later with a shortie:
Then to put a nail in the Devils’ coffin, hit 400 career points, AND score the hatty, Auston Matthews rocketed an empty netter to call the game:
The Leafs came back with a wild 4-goal period to win it 4-6. Matthews (whose lucky number really seems to be 4) had 4 points (3G 1A) and finally clinched 400 career points in 372 NHL games. In his career, this is the 9th time he’s had a 4-point game and that was his 5th career hatty. Those 400 points are made up of 227 goals and 173 assists throughout 5 and a half seasons. Every year he seems to be getting stronger and stronger. Before you know it, he’ll be at 500.
Marner also deserves a shoutout. He had 3 points tonight (1G 2A) and this is his 6th straight game with a goal. He also played 23:16 with some time on both the PK and PP. Petr Mrazek swapped in just 9:10 into the game after Jack Campbell gave up 3 goals on 9 shots. Mrazek played 50 minutes and only allowed one goal on 20 shots.
The Leafs are now 28-10-3 on the season and 3rd in the Atlantic. They’ve won their last 4 games and are heading to New Jersey to play the Devils once more tomorrow night. After tonight’s roller coaster of a game, it should be fun to watch and see if the Leafs will make this streak continue or if the Devils will finish the job tomorrow and stop them in their tracks.
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