Matthews gets hat trick for Maple Leafs in win against Devils
Sandin has two assists to help Toronto end three-game skid
via NHL.com
Auston Matthews had a hat trick for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 7-4 win against the New Jersey Devils at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.
It was Matthews’ first hat trick since he scored four goals in his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 12, 2016.
“My linemates made some unbelievable plays to get me the puck tonight, so I just tried to put it in,” Matthews said. “Overall, we wanted to have a good bounce back game (after an 8-4 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday). There was a bit of a lull in the second period, some stuff we’d like to clean up and do better, but all in all, nice to get back in the win column.”
Rasmus Sandin had two assists in his first NHL game since Oct. 12, John Tavares had a goal and two assists, and Frederik Andersen made 25 saves for the Maple Leafs (25-16-6), who had lost three straight (0-2-1).
“I feel confident out there, I feel like I know all the guys a little bit more, too, so that helps,” said Sandin, who was recalled Monday after Morgan Rielly fractured his foot against the Panthers that will keep him out at least eight weeks. “It’s great when those two shots result in goals. Those shots weren’t the hardest, but they got a stick on it and that helped our team.”
Blake Coleman had a hat trick for the Devils (17-22-7), who had won two in a row. Louis Domingue allowed five goals on 19 shots before being replaced in the second period by Cory Schneider, who made 13 saves.
“Not the setting I pictured it in, but it’s always special to get your first hat trick. That’s the kind of line we have around our team, which is to never give up and keep pushing, so that’s why I got it,” Coleman said. “We want to see push back in games like this, but it’s also fairly frustrating. Playing good hockey of late, (but) we didn’t show up for a period and a half, myself included. For whatever reason, we were flat and a good team like that can make you pay pretty quickly.”
They said it
“For some reason, we didn’t have it to start the game. We didn’t have our legs, there was no spark, the energy wasn’t there. I don’t have the answer why, but this was two different teams from tonight to the one from our last two wins against the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning.” — Devils coach Alain Nasreddine
“Just continue to play well, do the right things and try to win hockey games. We’ve got a lot of key guys out, guys who play big minutes for us, leaders on this team, so now it’s an opportunity for other guys to step up and play a bigger role and try to exceed what they’ve done out there. It’s a challenge we all should look forward to.” — Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews
Need to know
Devils forward Jack Hughes did not play in the third period because of an illness. … Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza played his 1,100th NHL game. … Marner has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in an eight-game point streak.
What’s next
Devils: At the Washington Capitals on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV)
Maple Leafs: Host the Calgary Flames on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, SNW, NHL.TV)
Bounced back with a big win.
Here are tonight's @OntarioLottery Game Winning Numbers. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/zLjFUjr94D
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 15, 2020
1⃣1⃣0⃣0⃣ career @NHL games.
Congratulations Jason! #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Oz2xZWjZFv
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 15, 2020
With his 129th win as a Maple Leaf tonight, Frederik Andersen has tied Mike Palmateer for the fifth-most wins by a goaltender in @MapleLeafs history. #LeafsForever
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 15, 2020
Lighting it up 🔥 #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/c8mrOwBcgU
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 15, 2020