NHL Game Recap: Nylander Scores Two For Toronto In 5-2 Win

The Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Monday, October 21st. It was an incredible win for the Leafs since they took a 4-1 loss against the New York Rangers after having a three-game win streak. William Nylander scored two goals and recorded an assist to help Toronto secure this 5-2 victory. Nicholas Paul and Brayden Point scored the two goals for Tampa Bay. The Maple Leafs will travel to Columbus on Tuesday to take on the Blue Jackets.

Maple Leafs Lineup:

Knies – Matthews – Marner

McMann – Domi – Nylander

Pacioretty – Tavares – Robertson

Holmberg – Kampf – Lorentz

Rielly – Tanev

Ekman-Larsson – McCabe

Benoit – Timmins

Stolarz

Hildeby

Tampa Bay Lightning Lineup:

Guentzel – Point – Kucherov

Hagel – Cirelli – Chaffee

Geekie – Paul – Atkinson

Girgensons – Glendening – Eyssimont

Hedman – Moser

McDonagh – Cernak

Lilleberg – Raddysh

Vasilevskiy

Johansson

Starting things off for Toronto – William Nylander put the Leafs in a 1-0 lead early into the opening frame at 16:03. From the left hash marks, he buried a one-timer off Max Domi’s pass. Nicholas Paul tied it 1-1 later in the first period with 4:04 remaining on the clock when his shot on a breakaway had been stopped by Anthony Stolarz, however, the rebound of his shot was knocked in by Simon Benoit, who had slid into the net after trying to chase Paul down.

Auston Matthews picked up his third goal of the season early at 18:04 of the second with a power-play goal, putting Toronto back in front 2-1. After Mitch Marner’s shot dropped between Andrei Vasilevskiy’s pads, Matthews jammed in the rebound in the crease. Nylander struck again, making it a 3-1 lead for the Leafs at 12:27 when he beat Vasilevskiy five-hole after electing to shoot on a 2-on-1 with Max Domi. After being a healthy scratch the previous two games, Max Pacioretty scored his second goal as a Maple Leaf to extend their lead to 4-1 with 10:29 on the clock. He struck from above the left circle, firing a one-timer in past Vasilevskiy, who had been pulled following the goal. Matthew Knies pushed it to 5-1 with 5:58 remaining in the middle frame after a turnover by Mitchell Chaffee, shooting on a breakaway five-hole.

Brayden Point cut it 5-2 late in the third period with 5:07 left in regulation with a power-play goal. He received a pass from Nikita Kucherov, who had faked a one-timer before making the play, and Point sent the puck in past Anthony Stolarz from the slot.

Notes:

– Auston Matthews extended his goal streak to three games… Mitch Marner recorded two assists.

– Antony Stolarz made 32 saves in his fourth straight start for the Maple Leafs… Stolarz’s best save came during the penalty kill when he stretched out to clear a shot from Jake Guentzel off the goal line with his glove.

– Max Pacioretty had three shots and was plus-1 in 12:21 of ice time.

– The Maple Leafs and Lightning will play the second game of a back-to-back tomorrow. Toronto will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets, while Tampa Bay will face the New Jersey Devils.

– Nikita Kucherov’s assist extended his season-opening point streak to five straight games… seven goals, three assists.

– Jake Guentzel’s four-game point streak was put to an end.

– Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled after the fourth Toronto goal, allowing four goals on 14 shots… Jonas Johansson made a total of 14 saves in relief for Tampa Bay.

– Tampa Bay had a 5-on-3 power play for two minutes soon after the fourth Toronto goal but failed to score despite generating seven shots on goal.