WINNIPEG, Manitoba — In a thrilling matchup on Monday night, John Tavares showcased his exceptional skill by netting a hat trick as the Toronto Maple Leafs triumphed over the Winnipeg Jets with a score of 6-4, dealing the Jets their first defeat of the season.
In addition to Tavares’ stellar performance, William Nylander contributed significantly with one goal and two assists, while Matthew Knies and Morgan Rielly also added to the scoreboard for Toronto. This victory marked a much-needed turnaround for the Maple Leafs, who had faced three consecutive losses prior to this game. Max Pacioretty, who was elevated from the fourth line to the second, recorded three assists, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz made 19 saves to help secure the win.
For Winnipeg, Kyle Connor was a standout, scoring three goals and providing an assist, thus extending his impressive point streak to nine games, which includes nine goals and five assists. This performance set a new franchise record for the best point streak at the start of a season, surpassing the previous record held by Blake Wheeler from the 2015-16 season. Mark Scheifele also contributed with a goal and an assist, while Josh Morrissey tallied three assists. Connor Hellebuyck put forth a solid effort with 30 saves in goal.
The Jets began their season with a remarkable run, claiming a franchise-record total of eight straight victories and were the last team in the NHL still holding an unbeaten record before this match.
Key Takeaways:
The Jets found themselves in a precarious position, trailing 4-0 by just over three minutes into the second period, a stark contrast to their usual defensive play. However, their special teams proved capable, successfully killing off two penalties while Connor managed to score two goals with the man advantage.
On the other hand, the Maple Leafs celebrated their highest-scoring game of the season, with all goals being scored at even strength. Despite this offensive prowess, Toronto’s power play struggled, converting only 10 percent of their chances (3 for 30), and they failed to capitalize on two power play opportunities during the game.
Key Moment:
A pivotal moment occurred early in the second period when, following an offensive barrage with 19 shots to just six from the Jets in the first period, Toronto’s Knies pounced on a rebound to score just 56 seconds in, extending the lead to 3-0.
Key Stat:
The Maple Leafs effectively limited the Jets to only 23 shots on goal while managing to block an impressive 18 shots throughout the course of the game.
Looking Ahead:
The Maple Leafs will continue their schedule by hosting the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, while the Jets will hit the road to face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.