Tavares goal gives Maple Leafs split with Oilers
via NHL.com
John Tavares scored a tiebreaking power-play goal with 8:14 left in the third period to help the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Friday.
Mitchell Marner took a pass at the blue line from William Nylander before having his shot deflected at the top of the crease by Tavares to put Toronto up 3-2. Each of Tavares’ four goals this season have come on the power play.
“As the game went on we got better,” Tavares said. “We were a little loose with some opportunities they created in the first period, but other than that, I thought we really found our game plan and guys stepped up and got a big bounce-back win.”
Marner had a goal and an assist, Jimmy Vesey and Adam Brooks scored, and Frederik Andersen made 29 saves for the Maple Leafs (4-2-0), whose only loss in their past four games was 3-1 to the Oilers on Wednesday.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid scored, and Mikko Koskinen made 25 saves for the Oilers (2-4-0).
“We just made one or two more mistakes and they capitalized,” McDavid said. “They’re a good offensive team, if you give them a little sniff they’re going to figure it out. I liked our first period and I like our third period. Our second period wasn’t our best and they found a way to get a couple. We tied the game early in the third and they pushed all the way through. They get a [power play] and they score and that’s the game.”
The Maple Leafs played without forward Auston Matthews, who is day to day with an upper-body injury, and forward Joe Thornton, who will be out at least four weeks with a fractured rib.
“In a game going into it without two very important players for us, we get down with a shorthanded goal but responded right away,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “That was a positive sign for us. Really good signs for us, we were steady all the way through, and I thought Fred Andersen was outstanding and that gave our group confidence.”
Friday night, feelin’ alright 🙌
Check out tonight’s @OntarioLottery Game Winning Numbers ⬇️ #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/ZxdHHCSXRH
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 23, 2021
Mitch Marner (87-212—299 in 306 GP) assisted on the game-winning goal and has now recorded the most assists by a @MapleLeafs player prior to their 24th birthday, surpassing Vincent Damphousse (118-211—329 in 394 GP). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/wIrLURrwJZ
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 23, 2021
Frederik Andersen earned his 139th regular-season win as a member of the @MapleLeafs and surpassed Curtis Joseph for sole possession of fourth place on the franchise’s all-time list. https://t.co/wlaES7GZu6 #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/EKwcpyqU6o
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 23, 2021