Matthews scores in third straight game, Maple Leafs defeat Jets
Auston Matthews scored for a third straight game, adding to his NHL-leading 24 goals, and the Toronto Maple Leafs won 3-1 against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place on Wednesday.
Matthews also had an assist, giving him six points (three goals, three assists) during his four-game point streak.
“Tonight was big one for us against a team that’s right up there with us in the standings,” Matthews said. “For us these two games [against Winnipeg] are extremely important.”
The two teams play again here Friday. Toronto is 3-2-0 against Winnipeg this season. The Maple Leafs lead the Jets by three points in the Scotia North Division.
Zach Hyman had a goal and an assist and Mitchell Marner had two assists for the Maple Leafs (23-10-3), who are 4-0-1 in their past five games. Jack Campbell made 26 saves. He is 7-0-0 in seven games this season.
Josh Morrissey scored and Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for the Jets (22-13-2).
“Unfortunately we had some penalties, which kind of takes the flow out of the game in a game where you’re trying to get your legs under you early,” Morrissey said. “We really weren’t able to. I really liked our game after that. In the second period we had a lot of great chances, we were all over them. They played a pretty solid game after that, didn’t give us a lot. I guess you could say they scored a few in the first and we only scored one in the game, so we lost the first period and we ended up losing the game.”
Matthews gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 4:40 of the first period.
Hyman scored to make it 2-0 at 10:47 of the first. The goal was upheld after the Jets challenged for goalie interference.
“The start was huge, going up 2-0 early, it’s a lot easier to play when you got the lead than when you’re coming from behind,” Maple Leafs forward Alexander Kerfoot said. “So that was big. I just though that we played a bit more of a complete game and [Campbell] did a great job back there shutting the door.”
Kerfoot scored shorthanded on a breakaway to make it 3-0 at 16:40 of the second period.
“A huge goal for us. A big moment in the game,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Obviously we don’t like giving the one back right after that … [the Jets] get the one you kind of expected they might within the number of minutes we gave them on the power play. It’s not of big a deal because we get that shorty.”
Morrissey scored on the power play at 17:15 for the 3-1 final.
Jets forward and captain Blake Wheeler left the game following the first period and did not return.
“It was tough. He’s a rock for us,” Jets forward Mark Scheifele said. “He does so much. He’s our heart and soul. So to see him not come back is tough. We played hard. We had a lot of guys step into more minutes and were grinding in there. It’s always good to see when guys pick up when another guy goes down.”
NOTES:
Marner had his 13th multipoint game of the season. Only three players have more: Connor McDavid (20), Patrick Kane (14) and Leon Draisaitl (14). Marner has six points (one goal, five assists) on a four-game point streak. … Kyle Connor has six points (one goal, five assists) on a four-game point streak. … Hyman has seven points (four goals, four assists) in his past seven games. … Scheifele has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past two games.
LEAFS WIN!
Winning Wednesday in Winnipeg!#LeafsForever #FuelledByG @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/aDlLnCyMDL
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 1, 2021
Winning Wednesday 🙌
Check out tonight’s @OntarioLottery Game Winning Numbers. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/VfPElncbir
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 1, 2021
Jack Campbell made 26 saves to improve to 7-0-0 through his first seven appearances this season as the @MapleLeafs (23-10-3, 49 points) defeated the Jets (22-13-2, 46 points) to strengthen their grip on first place in the Scotia North Division. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/zTcfNvVppz
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 1, 2021
2⃣ points for @ZachHyman ⭐️#LeafsForever | @Molson_Canadian pic.twitter.com/htCNgAnNiJ
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 1, 2021