Toronto, Canada – On Sunday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs triumphed over the Utah Hockey Club with a score of 3-2, marking their fourth consecutive victory. This matchup was notable as it was the first encounter between the two teams this season in the NHL.

During the second period, Mitch Marner became the star of the game, netting two goals that contributed significantly to the team’s success. Additionally, William Nylander scored his 14th goal of the season. Conversely, Logan Cooley and Jack McBain found the net for Utah, who were looking to build on a win they secured against Pittsburgh the previous day after ending a three-game losing streak.

The Maple Leafs played without their captain, Auston Matthews, who has been sidelined due to an upper-body injury for the eighth time. However, there are optimistic expectations that he could make a return this week. Despite Matthews’ absence, Toronto has shown remarkable adaptability, posting a record of 7-1-0 during his time off.

In a family affair, Alex Nylander made his debut with the Maple Leafs, having been signed recently from the AHL’s Marlies. He joined his brother William on the power play during the first period. Their presence on the ice marked a milestone as they became the 13th pair of siblings to play for the Toronto franchise and the fifth to do so together.

In an unexpected twist, the Nylander brothers opted for the subway to reach the arena, avoiding the notorious Toronto traffic. Meanwhile, Utah’s players had to abandon their bus and walk the remaining distance to the Scotiabank Arena.

The key turning point of the game came in the second period when the Maple Leafs responded sharply from a slow start. After trailing 1-0, they quickly scored three goals within 5 minutes and 35 seconds, dominating the period with 16 shots compared to Utah’s 6.

Statistically, Marner has been impressive during Matthews’ absence, tallying six goals and eight assists in the past eight games. He has recorded multipoint performances in seven out of those eight outings, raising his season total to 11. Only Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov has surpassed him in this category, boasting 12 multipoint games.

Looking ahead, the Maple Leafs will travel to Florida to compete against the Panthers on Wednesday, followed by a game against Tampa Bay on Saturday. Utah, on the other hand, will conclude their four-game road trip with a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.