Auston Matthews had three goals and an assist and the Toronto Maple Leafs scored four unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the visiting New Jersey Devils 6-4 Monday night.
Ilya Mikheyev scored his seventh of the season at 16:56 of the third to give Toronto a 5-4 lead. He completed a two-on-one break with Alexander Kerfoot while the Maple Leafs were killing a penalty.
Matthews capped his fifth career hat trick with his 28th goal of the season into an empty net with 22 seconds left.
Mitchell Marner added a goal and two assists and Jason Spezza also scored for the Maple Leafs, who have won four straight. It was their second consecutive win after trailing 4-2 after two periods. Mikheyev added an assist and Kerfoot had two assists.
Jesper Boqvist had a goal and an assist for New Jersey. Pavel Zacha, Andreas Johnsson and Nathan Bastian also scored.
Toronto goalie Jack Campbell allowed three goals on nine shots before Petr Mrazek replaced him in the first period. Mrazek stopped 19 shots.
Akira Schmid made 27 saves for the Devils, who have lost five straight.
The Devils led 3-2 after one period.
Zacha scored his 11th of the season on a shot from the left circle 47 seconds into the game. Jack Hughes made the pass to Zacha, whose shot squeezed past Campbell.
Boqvist scored his second of the season at 6:20, switching from his backhand to his forehand to steer the puck past Campbell.
Matthews scored 13 seconds later from the slot.
Dawson Mercer chipped the puck from the Devils' end to former Maple Leaf Johnsson, who gathered it in the neutral zone and scored from the left circle. His 11th goal of the season came at 9:10.
Mrazek then replaced Campbell.
Matthews scored at 15:04, tipping in Morgan Rielly's shot.
The Devils restored their two-game lead at 7:33 of the second period on Bastian's ninth goal of the season on a shot from the slot.
Spezza scored his eighth goal at 4:16 of the third period from the right circle.
Marner tied the game with his 12th goal from the slot after a faceoff at 13:28.
New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff was not with the team following the death of his father.
--Field Level Media
New Jersey | Toronto | |
Jesper Boqvist 2 | Points | Auston Matthews 4 |
Jesper Boqvist 1 | Goals | Auston Matthews 3 |
Jesper Boqvist 1 | Assists | Mitchell Marner 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Auston Matthews 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | Ilya Mikheyev 1 |
Akira Schmid .844 | Save Percentage | Petr Mrazek .950 |
Akira Schmid 27 | Saves | Petr Mrazek 19 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
New Jersey | 29 | 4 | 0-3 | 2-3 | 6 | 21 |
Toronto | 33 | 6 | 1-3 | 3-3 | 6 | 37 |