Maple Leafs Rally Past Oilers with Power-Play Surge for 3rd Straight Win
Toronto’s push for playoff positioning hit full stride Tuesday night as the Maple Leafs pulled off a commanding 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Matias Maccelli stole the show, scoring twice and helping Toronto capitalize on a pair of rapid power-play opportunities in the third period to pull away.
The game was tightly contested through most of the first two periods. Maccelli opened the scoring midway through the second, redirecting a point shot past Oilers goalie Connor Ingram. Edmonton responded quickly with a goal from Jake Walman, only to see Toronto’s Matthew Knies reclaim the lead nine seconds later, turning a defensive miscue into a backhand goal that set the tone for the Leafs’ resilience.
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By the third period, the score was tied 2-2, but two consecutive penalties on Edmonton handed Toronto a critical 5-on-3 advantage. John Tavares tapped in a backdoor goal from William Nylander to break the tie and Maccelli followed with a quick strike to extend the lead. Bobby McMann capped the scoring into an empty net, sealing a third consecutive victory before the NHL pauses for the Winter Olympics.
Anthony Stolarz was a standout in net for the Leafs, making 34 saves and giving Toronto the confidence to execute on their power plays. The win brings the Maple Leafs to 27-21-9 on the season, though they remain five points out of a wild-card spot in a highly competitive playoff race. Toronto’s current form, stringing together three wins in four days, suggests the team is finding momentum at just the right time before the Olympic break.
For the Oilers, the loss continues a troubling trend on special teams. Edmonton went 0-for-1 on the power play and has conceded eight goals on 16 penalties over their last five games. Star forwards Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins all saw their point streaks snapped, highlighting challenges that have emerged despite a 4-4 record over their recent eight-game homestand. Defenseman Darnell Nurse stressed the need for improvement, emphasizing that the team must address these weaknesses quickly, especially with a crucial matchup against Calgary looming.
Toronto enters the Olympic break with confidence and momentum, while Edmonton faces pressing questions on how to tighten up defensively and regain consistency at home. As both teams prepare for the remainder of the season, the outcomes of these next stretches could have lasting implications for playoff positioning and team morale.
Stay tuned for ongoing coverage of the NHL as teams regroup during the Olympic pause and keep watching as we track the impact of these performances on the race for the playoffs.
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