In Ottawa,Auston Matthews continued his push to lead the NHL in scoring with his 42nd strike of the season in a 4-2 win over the Senators on Saturday night.
“What was important was trying to get out to a lead quick,” Matthews said. “Just trying to build off that. … We just stuck with it, even when they made a push. We played back in their end and had some chances.”
Jake Muzzin had a goal for the Maple Leafs – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Jack Campbell was the beneficiary of the offense, he made 25 saves in the win.
“[Campbell] was great for us,” Matthews said. “He made some huge saves. You just see him in there, he’s having so much fun. He just loves to compete, loves to battle for the guys, and he came up with some big saves.”
Cody Goloubef and Connor Brown scored for the Senators.
“A lot of positives to take out of that game,” Brown said. “I think we had our fair share of chances to win that thing. Obviously, they’re a talented team, they put pucks away when they have their chances. But for the most part, we’re going in the right direction from a team identity point of view and from a work ethic point of view.”
Jake Muzzin and William Nylander also scored for the Leafs.
Mitchell Marner added an empty net goal from downtown to seal the win.
“Three or four of our best chances of the game come in the third period there,” Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We could’ve really blown the game open, but their goalie made a bunch of saves and let them hang around. … Luckily, we got the bounce to go our way on the empty net, which I think we earned that bounce through our play in the third.”
[WATCH: All Maple Leafs vs. Senators highlights]
shots he faced in relief of Marcus Hogberg got the start for the Senators, but was given the hook after making 13 saves and yielding three goals.
“I don’t think it’s on [Hogberg] at all,” Senators head coach D.J. Smith said. “I just think pucks found their way in, a couple of bad bounces, and I just thought it was a time to change the momentum for us, more than it was a pull because he didn’t have it going.”
Craig Anderson made 14 saves in the mop up effort.
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