TORONTO — Auston Matthews registered his second hat trick in two video games to open the season, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Minnesota Wild 7-Four on Saturday evening.
William Nylander had two objectives and an help for Toronto, and Ilya Samsonov made 28 saves. Calle Jarnkrok had a purpose and an help, and Tyler Bertuzzi additionally scored. Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly every had two assists.
Matthews is the fifth participant in NHL historical past to open a season with back-to-back hat methods, becoming a member of Alex Ovechkin (2017-18), Cy Denneny (1917-18), Joe Malone (1917-18) and Reg Noble (1917-18).
“I wish to play on the highest stage that I can each evening,” Matthews stated. “I’m probably not pondering previously or serious about years previously. It’s all about right now.
“Simply making an attempt to exit and put in my finest effort and do what I can to assist the crew.”
Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe stated it has been enjoyable watching Matthews go to work.
“You don’t anticipate back-to-back hat methods, in fact, however I’ve gotten considerably comfy and used to Auston having huge nights, making a huge impact,” Keefe stated.
“To take action back-to-back nights to begin a season, it’s terrific.”
Matt Boldy, Ryan Hartman, Marco Rossi and Brandon Duhaime scored for Minnesota. Filip Gustavsson stopped 26 photographs.
Toronto, which posted a 6-5 shootout victory over Montreal in its season opener Wednesday, fell behind at 9:32 of the primary interval when Hartman tipped a shot previous Samsonov.
Matthews then began to take over.
The middle, who scored a career-high 60 objectives when he was the NHL MVP for the 2021-22 season, fired previous Gustavsson at 10:54.
Coming off his eighth profession hat trick within the opener, Matthews made it 2-1 at 12:35 on a 4-on-Three energy play. Matthews’ shot from a pointy angle went in off a Minnesota stick for his fifth purpose in 4 durations.
“He’s feeling it,” Rielly stated. “When your man’s doing that and controlling the sport, placing the puck within the web, it offers us an excellent probability to win.”
Nylander then despatched a cost by means of the group with a panoramic particular person effort late within the interval when he stepped previous a few defenders and slotted dwelling his second.
Gustavsson, who made 41 saves in a 2-Zero victory towards Florida on Thursday, allowed Toronto’s fourth of the evening when Bertuzzi bought his first with the Leafs on one other energy play at 3:35 of the second.
However the Wild bought one again 34 seconds later when Boldy beat Samsonov, and Rossi batted in his first NHL purpose at 9:51 to make it 4-Three by means of 40 minutes.
Samsonov made a terrific save to disclaim Rossi his second early within the third and Gustavsson denied Matthews on an influence play on the different finish.
The Leafs went again up by two at 9:54 when Jarnkrok completed off an incredible go from Rielly, and Matthews transformed a wraparound at 10:25.
Nylander then added his second of the evening and third general off the push at 12:14.