Power-play success pushes Leafs past Stars
Feb 7, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Dallas Stars goalie Scott Wedgewood (41) cannot stop a shot for a goal from Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (not shown) in the first period at Scotiabank Arena. credits: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports William Nylander had two goals and an assist and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Dallas Stars 5-4 Wednesday night.
John Tavares added a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs, who were 3-for-3 on the power play and have won four of their last five games. Auston Matthews added a goal and an assist and Mitchell Marner also scored.
Ilya Samsonov made 27 saves.
Evgenii Dadonov scored twice — one on a penalty shot — for the Stars, who had their four-game winning streak end. Jamie Benn and Wyatt Johnston also scored.
Scott Wedgewood stopped 26 shots.
Nylander scored his 24th goal of the season on a shot through a double screen from the edge of the left circle. Morgan Rielly's pass set up the power-play goal at 6:34 of the first period with Joel Hanley serving a high-sticking penalty.
Benn scored his ninth goal of the season on a 16-foot shot during a power play at 15:42 of the first. Joe Pavelski made the final pass. Tyler Bertuzzi was off for high-sticking.
A Toronto turnover at the Dallas blue line and Ty Dellandrea's pass started a rush that resulted in Dadonov's 11th goal of the season at 17:23 of the first and a 2-1 Stars lead.
Dallas had a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal after the first period.
Tavares tied the game at 2-2, scoring his 15th goal of the season from the slot at 3:40 of the second period on a power play with Tyler Seguin off for hooking.
Matthews forced a turnover and scored his 41st goal when his shot was deflected by a Dallas player during a power play at 12:37 of the second. Miro Heiskanen was off for hooking.
Dallas led 22-16 in shots on goal after two periods.
Dadonov scored on a penalty shot at 11:02 of the third period, his 12th goal of the season, to tie it at 3-3.
Toronto regained the lead on Marner's 22nd of the season 32 seconds later, and Nylander added his 25th goal of the season 20 seconds after that to make it 5-3.
Johnston scored his 15th goal at 18:35 of the third with Wedgewood off for an extra attacker.
—Field Level Media