PITTSBURGH (AP) — In a heart-pounding match-up against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Toronto Maple Leafs emerged victorious with a nail-biting 6-5 win on Sunday, thanks to William Nylander’s overtime heroics. Nylander, alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, showcased an impressive performance with each player contributing a goal and an assist, propelling Toronto to secure their fifth consecutive win. Additional goals from John Tavares, Max Domi, and Conor Timmins further solidified the Maple Leafs’ triumph on the ice. Nylander’s goal, his 35th of the season and 252nd of his career, propelled him to surpass Bob Pulford for the 10th spot on the franchise’s all-time list. Matthews continued his stellar form with his 390th goal, eclipsing Darryl Sittler to claim the second spot on the franchise’s goal-scoring leaderboard, just behind Mats Sundin. Meanwhile, Mitch Marner’s assist propelled him to the fifth position on the franchise points list with 714 career points.
On the opposing end, Sidney Crosby displayed his exceptional skillset for the Penguins, contributing a goal and two assists. In doing so, Crosby surpassed hockey legends Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe on the NHL’s all-time goals and assists lists, solidifying his status as one of the game’s greats with 611 goals and 1,050 assists. Rickard Rakell’s milestone 500th NHL point, along with goals from Bryan Rust and Cody Glass, added to Pittsburgh’s offensive efforts in an intense showdown. Joel Blomqvist’s 27 saves in goal kept the Penguins within striking distance throughout the game.
Key takeaways from the game include the Maple Leafs’ impressive form, having secured eight wins in their last nine outings, consistently showcasing their offensive prowess with three or more goals in each victory. In contrast, the Penguins have struggled in their recent performances, suffering six losses in their last seven games, including a defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
The pivotal moment in the game came during overtime when Nylander capitalized on a wrist shot from between the circles, clinching the win for the Maple Leafs. Notably, Toronto’s flawless record of 27-0-0 this season when leading after two periods underscores their ability to close out games effectively.
Looking ahead, the Maple Leafs are set to face the San Jose Sharks on Monday, while the Penguins will travel to Colorado for their next game on Tuesday.
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