The Toronto Maple Leafs secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night, ending the Avalanche’s impressive 17-game winning streak at home. William Nylander became the hero of the night by scoring the overtime goal just 3 minutes and 59 seconds into the extra period, assisted by Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
In addition to Nylander’s crucial goal, Auston Matthews, Easton Cowan, and Bobby McMann also found the back of the net, contributing to the Maple Leafs’ impressive recent record of 8 wins, 0 losses, and 2 ties in their last 10 games. Joseph Woll put on a stellar performance in goal, making 31 saves and helping the team survive a late penalty at the end of regulation.
It was a tough loss for the Avalanche, marking their first defeat at home since October 23. Despite goals from Cale Makar, Brock Nelson, and Martin Necas, as well as three assists from Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado couldn’t maintain their unbeaten streak at Ball Arena this season. Trent Miner, standing in for the injured goaltenders, put up a strong effort with 27 saves but couldn’t stop Nylander’s game-winning shot in overtime.
The game was full of excitement, with Martin Necas tying the score late in the third period after Matthews had given Toronto the lead. MacKinnon’s contributions for the Avalanche were notable, including a near-win in overtime that was denied by the crossbar. The match showcased the skill and determination of both teams, with standout performances from key players on both sides.