Marner scores late, Maple Leafs beat Predators without Matthews
Posted January 11, 2023 10:29 pm.
No Auston Matthews. No problem.
Mitch Marner scored late in the third period, and John Tavares had a goal and an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Wednesday.
Tavares got the Maple Leafs on the board early, scoring his 20th goal. The Leafs captain has scored more than 20 goals in every season during his career outside of the 2020-21 campaign when he potted 19 goals in a diminished 56 games.
Toronto goalie Matt Murray stopped 30 of 31 shots, including a highlight-reel save in the first period.
Marner scored with 1:15 left in the third period, which proved to be the difference maker. It was Marner’s 16th goal of the season.
THOSE MAGIC MITTS!!! ???? pic.twitter.com/MOv141fsmG
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 12, 2023
William Nylander finished with two assists, with Timothy Liljegren picking up a secondary assist on Tavares’ goal. Predators winger Fillip Forsberg scored for Nashville.
Toronto picked up the home win without Matthews, who sat out due to what head coach Sheldon Keefe called a lingering ailment. It’s unclear when Matthews suffered the injury, but he has scored at a slower pace this season after his record-setting 60-goal campaign a year ago.
Keefe said it had not been determined whether Matthews would play in Detroit against the Red Wings on Thursday.
Matthews’ absence allowed winger Bobby McMann to make his NHL debut on Wednesday. McMann, an Alberta native, skated on a line with David Kampf and Alex Kerfoot.
The 26-year-old rookie played just over 11 minutes, registering two hits. He had 15 points in 17 games with the Toronto Marlies before his call-up.
