The Toronto Maple Leafs extended their impressive run without captain Auston Matthews, defeating the Utah Hockey Club 3-2 on Sunday night. With Matthews absent from the lineup for the seventh consecutive game due to an upper-body injury, Mitch Marner and William Nylander stepped up, leading the Leafs to their seventh victory in eight games without their star player.
Marner, who had his first multi-goal game of the season, and Nylander, who scored the game-winning goal, ensured that the Leafs kept their momentum going at Scotiabank Arena. This victory helped Toronto become the first team in the NHL to reach 10 home victories this season. The Leafs’ win streak was further bolstered by the team’s continued dominance, despite missing seven regular forwards through injuries and suspensions.
Heading into Sunday’s game, the Maple Leafs were riding high after a 6-2-1 stretch through November, which helped them ascend to the top of the Atlantic Division. They were one point ahead of the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers and their pace was 25 points better than last season through the first 20 games. Remarkably, all of this success was achieved without Matthews, the reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner, in the lineup.
Marner, who has scored 14 points in the eight games since Matthews’ absence, credited the team’s depth for their success. “We have a lot of great players, regardless if it’s on our team or in the Marlies organization, so a lot of guys down there that can be playing on a full-time NHL roster,” he said. “So we got a lot of confidence whoever’s in our lineup, and that’s how you have to play.”
The mood around the team lifted even more over the weekend as Matthews returned from his medical trip to Germany, where he consulted with a specialist regarding his injury. Matthews was back on the ice for the first time in over a week on Saturday and Sunday. He stated that his condition had improved significantly, calling it “night and day” from where he was at the start of his recovery. Matthews also indicated that he might be ready to return to the lineup by Wednesday’s game in Florida.
Further strengthening the team’s lineup, the Leafs signed Alex Nylander, William’s younger brother, to a one-year NHL contract to help alleviate the effects of the forward shortages. Sunday’s game marked the first time the Nylander brothers had played together in the NHL, a special moment for both players. The duo became the fifth set of brothers to play for the Maple Leafs in the same game and the first since Miroslav and Peter Ihnacak 37 years ago.
“The entire day was special, and seeing him out there in the first period was kind of just like crazy,” William Nylander said. Alex, who was making his NHL debut with the Leafs, shared that he was more relaxed than expected, but he knew that with many forwards still to return, his job to stay in the NHL was just beginning. “I just got to work hard every shift, be heavy on the forecheck, win battles, and when I do that, the rest of my game comes,” he said.
The game began with a power-play goal by Logan Cooley, putting Utah ahead 1-0 in the first period. The Leafs were outshot 12-10 during the opening stanza but would turn the game around in the second period. The shift in momentum came quickly, with Marner leading the way. Just over five minutes into the second period, Marner received a perfectly timed pass from John Tavares, who found him streaking up the ice. Marner then fired a wrist shot past Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka’s glove for his seventh goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1.
The Leafs would strike again just over four minutes later, capitalizing on their fourth power-play opportunity of the game. Marner, once again, was the catalyst. After Nylander’s shot from the left circle hit Minten and missed the far post, Marner was quick to grab the puck behind the net and shot it off Vejmelka’s leg and into the goal. This gave Marner his second goal of the night, his eighth of the season, and moved him past Syl Apps on the franchise’s all-time goal list with 202 career goals for the Leafs.
Nylander would also add his name to the score sheet in the second period. After stealing the puck from Cooley, Nylander raced down the ice and beat a tired Vejmelka to give the Leafs a 3-1 lead. This goal marked Nylander’s 14th of the season and his 231st career goal for the Leafs, pushing him past former captain Ted Kennedy into sole possession of 11th place on the franchise’s all-time goal-scoring list.
Despite the strong second period, the game was far from over. Utah made a push in the third period and cut the Leafs’ lead to 3-2 just under two minutes into the frame when Jack McBain scored off a tip-in. However, Toronto had multiple opportunities to extend its lead, with both Nick Robertson and Alex Nylander hitting the post. The Leafs were unable to add another goal, but their defensive effort, led by goaltender Joseph Woll, held up.
Woll, making his seventh start of the season, was solid between the pipes, turning aside 23 shots to secure his fifth win of the year. His most crucial save came with seven minutes left in the game when he made a stunning pad stop on Michael Carcone, preserving the one-goal lead. Woll’s stellar play allowed the Leafs to maintain their advantage and close out the game with a 3-2 win.
The victory marked another key win for Toronto, who have proven resilient in the face of injuries and absences. Despite missing key players like Matthews and several others, the Leafs have been able to continue their dominance, thanks to contributions from all areas of the roster. Marner’s two-goal performance, Nylander’s game-winner, and Woll’s timely saves were just the latest examples of the team’s depth and commitment to success.
With Matthews potentially returning soon, the Maple Leafs are in an even stronger position to continue their climb up the standings. As they sit atop the Atlantic Division and look to extend their lead, the Leafs will be hoping that their injured players can return to full health and keep the team firing on all cylinders. The win against Utah was another step toward achieving that goal, and with the roster continuing to evolve, the team’s prospects for the remainder of the season are looking brighter than ever.