Auston Matthews posts hat trick as Maple Leafs edge Flames
Jan 18, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar (80) guards his net against Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. credits: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports Auston Matthews collected his fourth hat trick of the season in a four-point game to lead the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 comeback victory over the Calgary Flames that snapped their four-game winless skid on Thursday.
Mitch Marner also scored for Toronto, while William Nylander collected two assists. Goaltender Martin Jones made 23 saves.
Yegor Sharangovich, Nazem Kadri and Andrew Mangiapane replied for the Flames, who surrendered a two-goal lead and saw their season-best winning streak snapped at four games. Goalie Dan Vladar stopped 29 shots and Jonathan Huberdeau netted two assists.
With the Flames leading 2-0, Matthews provided the Maple Leafs a much-needed jolt of life with 96 seconds remaining in the opening frame when he ripped a shot from the slot to put them on the board.
After Matthews tied the game at 4:08 of the second period with a one-timer from the right face-off dot, Marner put the Maple Leafs ahead with a power-play goal at 7:44 of the second period, a sharp-angled offering for his 19th of the season.
Matthews completed his 11th career hat trick at 13:39 of the period when he buried his own rebound chance for his league-best 37th goal of the season.
With his 71st multi-point game, Matthews tied Darryl Sittler for most in franchise history.
Mangiapane made it a one-goal game with just over two minutes remaining in the second period when he kicked a loose puck and it went into the net off the stick of a Toronto defenseman for his ninth of the season, but Calgary could not pull even.
The hosts thought they had tied the game before the midway point of the third period, but the Maple Leafs successfully challenged a hand-pass was missed prior to the goal.
The Flames jumped out to a two-goal lead, starting with Sharangovich's 19th of the season just past the midway point of the first period, his seventh goal in five games. Kadri netted a power-play goal at 15:23 for his 16th of the season, which extended his point streak to eight games, in which he has collected six goals and 11 points.
—Field Level Media