In Toronto, the Maple Leafs blew a 3-1 lead in the third period, and needed a goal from William Nylander, 34 seconds into extra time to defeat the visiting Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3. 
Auston Matthews hit for his fifth hat trick of the campaign in the win.
“I thought their guy [Scott Laughton] that wanted to change kind of chased me pretty far up,” Nylander said. “I was able to get kind of an odd-man rush there. It was a nice play by Liljegren.”
Ilya Samsonov made 29 saves in the win.
The Maple Leafs moved to 28-16-8.
“I think it’s just building that positive momentum going forward and having these last two weeks being for the most part here at home, and then [having] a solid homestand and making sure we are taking care of business here on home ice before we get going on the [four-game] road trip,” Matthews said. “These are really important games for us and definitely not to be taken lightly.”
The Flyers’ Travis Sanheim hit for a shorthanded goal at 7:42 of the opening stanza to take a 1-0 lead in the game.
Matthews then went to work on his hat rick.All three were scored in the middle frame.
His first came at 11:06 to tie the game, 1-1.
Hie collected his double at 14:20 with a power play strike for a 2-1 lead to the Mpale Leafs.
“I thought Auston was really the catalyst for us [in the second period], not just because he shot the puck in the net, but just the way he competed, won loose pucks, I thought he was a beast for us in that second period,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He really just got us going and set the example of what was required.”
Matthews collected his hats at 18:55 for a 3-1 lead headed to the third period.
“I just tried to keep the puck in and kind of want Matthews to touch the puck to get the whistle, but he told me to touch the puck, and then I saw him open in the middle and made the pass,” Liljegren said.
“I’m kind of used to [Matthews getting hat tricks] by now, I guess. It’s just something he does. He goes on a roll and it’s not even that good of scoring chances. He’s a goal scorer, so it’s fun to see.”
The Flyers dropped to 29-19-7.
In the third period, the Flyers rallied on a pair of strikes.
Garnet Hathaway trimmed the deficit to 3-2 for the Flyers at 14:14.
Travis Konecny forced the extra session when he potted the tying goal at 15:15 off a power play to tie the game, 3-3.
“They’ve done it all year long, it’s the steadiness of a room,” Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. “They just keep on playing. Would have liked to play a little bit more in overtime, but it doesn’t surprise me how they handle themselves.”
Samuel Ersson made 24 saves in the loss.
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