In Toronto, the visiting Vancouver Canucks scored three times in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit to the Maple Leafs and defeat Toronto, 6-4, on Saturday.
Tanner Pearson, Alex Chiasson, and Tyler Motte scored in the three-goal outburst.
The Canucks improved to 28-23-6.
“I think they’re starting to believe in themselves, and when you have belief anything can happen,” Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We played so bad in the second period and our thought was we were only down one. So all we had to do was win one period and we would at least have one point. I thought we played a great third period, and Demko in the last five minutes was incredible.”
Thatcher Demko made 34 saves in the Canucks win.
Auston Matthews hit for a pair of goals for the Maple Leafs, he has 39 goals on the season.
“I thought we played a good game tonight,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “In comparison to our game the other night (a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday), it was not even close. I thought our guys played hard today, I don’t think we gave up very much, but we absolutely have to do a better job in our own end dealing with pucks coming to our net.”
The Maple Leafs fell to 35-16-4.
“He looked relieved, the bench was real happy for him,” Keefe said. “I was happy he held on to that one and shot it in himself. It was great initiative by him. That’s the kind of spot you can get in and start to overthink it, but he didn’t.”
J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, and Travis Hamonic also scored for the Canucks.
“This was one of the games you are going to remember,” Miller said. “Every game feels like a do-or-die for us, which is good and bad. You don’t want to be in this position but you have to embrace it because you know it has to bring the best out of you. I love it. Those games are awesome to play in, the emotion, the energy. That was just an awesome win.”
Nicholas Robertson and John Tavares added single markers for Toronto.
“What [this win] does is give us that much more belief,” Miller said. “We’ve got a good thing going right now, and we’re excited to get a little rest here and start this homestand off and make it hard to play against us these next seven.
“We should fully believe that we can get into the playoffs because that’s what we want to play for, and all these home games coming up will be a good opportunity for us.”
Jack Campbell made 23 saves in the Leafs loss.
“I’m not happy with giving up any goals ever, so it’s not acceptable, but I’m trying to let it roll off a little easier now,” Campbell said. “I know I’ve got better for the team. It’s disappointing not getting the win when we played so well.”
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