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After a pair of weak efforts in losses to Columbus and St. Louis last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs have bounced back with three of a possible four points with a late rally to earn a loser point in a 4-3 overtime loss to Boston and snapping their losing skid with a 6-4 win over the unbeaten Winnipeg Jets on Monday.
“I thought we were really good five-on-five tonight, we played the right way the whole game. Penalties got us in trouble, “Leafs head coach Craig Berube said. “(A quick start) is exactly what we needed especially in this building, with the good team we were playing tonight.”
Veteran John Tavares registered his 12th career hat trick, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and Morgan Rielly scored for Toronto, Max Pacioretty added three assists, Anthony Stolarz made 19 saves for the victory, as the Leafs bolted out to a 4-0 lead in the middle frame and held on for dear life as the Jets staged a third-period comeback on the strength of goals from Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi, but Tavares completed his hat trick with an empty netter in the final minute of regulation.
The Leafs rode the newly formed line of Pacioretty, Tavares, and Nylander to victory, who were responsible for four of the first five Toronto goals.
“They had a heck of a game. They got it done offensively, and they went up against Scheifele’s line for most of the game and they were very good defensively.” Berube said. “(Nylander) was not getting many puck touches, so he got those tonight, and when he get puck touches, he’s a dangerous player.”
Berube was pleased with the reshuffled power play units, in spite of Toronto's 0 for 2 on the night. The Leafs used Rielly along with the top line of Knies, Auston Matthews, and Pacioretty. A second unit was quarterbacked by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, along with Nylander, Tavares, Max Domi, and Bobby McMann.
The Leafs now return home to take on the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. After two straight starts with Stolarz in goal, Joseph Woll will likely get back between the pipes.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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