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Andrew Copp had a
goal and an assist while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck sparkled
with a 36-save performance as the visiting Winnipeg Jets claimed
a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
Neal Pionk had three assists and Nikolaj Ehlers collected two
assists for the Jets, who have won seven of nine games and
vaulted into second place, behind Toronto, in the North
Division.
Trailing 2-1 after the midway point, the Jets took flight
starting with Josh Morrissey's first goal of the season at 12:45
of the second period. Morrissey sent a long wrist shot that
deflected off a defender past his own goalie to make it a 2-2
game.
Kyle Connor followed with the go-ahead goal late in the second
period. From behind the net, Ehlers threaded a pass to Connor in
the slot, and Connor converted for his 12th tally of the season.
Mason Appleton netted the game-winner at 7:53 of the third
period with another hard-working goal. Appleton gained the puck
in the high slot during a rush, drove to the net and while
falling deposited his seventh goal of the year to make it 4-2.
Auston Matthews scored this second of the game -- and
league-leading 20th of the season -- with 1:54 remaining in
regulation, but the hosts couldn't get the equalizer.
With his goal, Matthews joins Dave Keon as the only players in
franchise history to score 20 or more goals in each of their
first five career NHL seasons.
Frederik Andersen stopped 19 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have
lost three straight games for the first time this season.
The Maple Leafs found the quick start they were looking for when
Zach Hyman opened the scoring with a great individual effort.
Hyman gained the puck inside his own blue line, worked his way
past a few defenders all the way to the net before lifting a
backhand home for his eighth goal of the season at the 8:16
mark.
Before the first intermission, the clubs traded power-play
goals. Copp evened the scoring when he redirected Pionk's point
shot at the 12:20 mark, but Matthews restored Toronto's edge
when he set up shop at the front of the net and deflected Morgan
Rielly's shot from the point at 17:44 for his first goal in six
games.
The win came at a price for Winnipeg as defenseman Nathan
Beaulieu left the game early in the second period after a shot
he attempted to block hit him in the hand.
--Field Level Media
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