John Tavares recorded a hat trick while Max Pacioretty and William Nylander combined for six points as the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs handed the Winnipeg Jets their first defeat of the season, a 6-4 decision on Monday.
With the Jets pressing while trailing 5-4 in their quest to go 9-0-0, Tavares notched an empty-netter with 25 seconds to go for his 12th career hat trick.
Nylander had a goal with two assists and Pacioretty added three helpers as Toronto snapped the three-game slide (0-2-1). Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies also scored and Anthony Stolarz made 19 saves for the Maple Leafs, who have won six straight over Winnipeg.
Kyle Connor recorded two goals and two assists while Josh Morrissey added three assists for the Jets, who also had their 16-game regular-season winning streak end. Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi each logged a goal and an assist while Connor Hellebuyck stopped 30 shots.
Toronto opened the scoring with 8:04 remaining in the first period. Off a broken play, the puck made its way near the front of the net, where Pacioretty pushed it through some modest slot traffic for Tavares to convert.
Another stellar Pacioretty pass led to Toronto’s second goal. From the side of the Winnipeg net, he sent the puck to a waiting Nylander to bury with 2:13 left in the first.
Toronto needed just 56 seconds into the second to extend its lead. Amid pressure on Hellebuyck, Knies was in prime position to easily clean up the rebound of Auston Matthews’ shot. Roughly 2 1/2 minutes later, Pacioretty and Nylander teamed to get the puck over to Rielly, whose shot rang off the post and in for a 4-0 Toronto edge.
Winnipeg finally broke through at 6:19 into the second. On a power play, Connor found enough of an opening to beat. Then with 8:35 remaining in the second, and via the Jets’ third power of the period, Connor one-timed the puck through the legs of a screened Stolarz.
Toronto, though, cooled the Jets’ momentum with 2:07 left in the middle frame. Tavares got the last stick on the puck amid traffic before getting past Hellebuyck.
Winnipeg got back within two at 7:36 remaining in the third. On a delayed power play, Connor sent a cross-zone pass for Scheifele to successfully one-time.
Vilardi tipped in Connor’s shot with 3:47 left in regulation after the Jets emptied the net, but Tavares’ last-minute tally sealed the outcome.
–Field Level Media
