March 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson Larcombe (2) pushes the puck away from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Image Matthew Knies had a goal and three assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Anaheim Ducks 6-4 on Thursday night.
Matias Mazzelli had a goal and two assists, while William Nylander and John Tavares each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who ended their eight-game losing streak (0-6-2).
Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Benoit-Olivier Groulx also scored. Joseph Woll made 36 saves in the Maple Leafs’ first home win since Jan. 10, ending an 0-6-2 home skid.
Matthews left the game late in the second half with a lower body injury after going through a 12-game scoreless drought. He didn’t come back.
Cutter Gauthier, Ian Moore, Pavel Mintyukov and Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks, who have lost two of three points. Jeffrey Biel had two assists and Lucas Dostal blocked 22 shots.
Michael Pezzetta, who was promoted to the Maple Leafs on Thursday from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, fought Biel in the opening faceoff.
Maccelli opened the scoring at 7:19 of the first period. He stole the puck from Jackson LaCombe at the Toronto blue line, darted down the right wing and fired a shot from the circle.
Seconds after the Toronto penalty expired, Gauthier scored on a carom off the end boards with 12:19 to play.
Anaheim took a 2-1 lead at 14:26 when Moore’s first shot from the inside edge of the right circle came off a pass from Jansen Harkins behind the goal line.
Mintyukov took a pass from Ryan Poehling and scored from the left circle at 2:55 of the second period for a 3-1 advantage.
Matthews scored on a one-timer from the right circle during a power play at 10:47 of the second. Jacob Trouba left to fall.
Anaheim’s Radko Gudas received a five-minute major for a knee-to-knee hit on Matthews at 15:47 of the second inning, and Matthews was called for game misconduct after being helped to the locker room.
Tavares scored on a 47-foot power play at 16:26 of the second to tie the game at 3-3.
Nylander scored Gudas’ second goal in the 34th minute of the third quarter, giving Toronto the lead.
Groulx scored a short-handed goal at 8:35 of the third, the second goal of his NHL career and first since Nov. 7, 2021.
Knies scored into an empty net at 18:12 and Killorn had a sharp third period that featured various close contests at 19:34.
–Field level media
