Matthews scores twice in third period as Maple Leafs beat Predators

That was a little more acceptable to Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube.

Contents of the article

The Leafs were cut short on Tuesday. mini-skid with two lossesdefeating the Nashville Predators 7-4 at Scotiabank Arena.

Contents of the article

Captain Auston Matthews capped the win with two goals in the third period, including one into an empty net. After Matthews' first goal, rookie Easton Cowan started the game in the neutral zone and recorded his first National Hockey League point with an assist.

In his first start from Toronto After being ineligible for the Carolina Hurricanes last week, goaltender Caden Primeau made 27 saves.

The Leafs picked up the win after back-to-back losses to the Detroit Red Wings.

The day after Berube called him for an illegal play, the winger William Nylander played with great enthusiasm and made two assists. Nylander also scored into an empty net.

Contents of the article

Goals by Michael McCarron and Erik Haula 44 seconds apart for Nashville tied the game at 2-2 four minutes into the second.

Toronto didn't flinch as John Tavares and Bobby McMann restored a two-goal lead late in the middle period.

For Tavares, who knocked the puck over the line while being checked by Predators captain Roman Josi, it was another step closer to becoming the 49th player in NHL history to score 500 goals. Tavares has 495 goals.

McMann scored off a pass from Nick Robertson.

The Leafs took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission thanks to goals from defensemen Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. McCabe, who scored two goals last season and didn't get his first until Jan. 4, scored. Ekman-Larsson's shot/pass found its way past Preds forward Ozzie Wiesblatt.

Ekman-Larsson also had two assists.

Josie and Nick Perbix scored goals late in the third period for Nashville.

[email protected]

X: @koshtorontosun