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Tavares Scores in OT as Maple Leafs Edge Golden Knights 2-1

Peter Allen Bak
Peter Allen Bak
3 Min Read
Nov 7, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen (31) makes a save as defenseman Cody Ceci (83) defends Las Vegas Golden Knighrs forward Brandon Pirri (73) in the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

John Tavares played the hero for the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to secure a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.

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In his second game back after missing seven due to a broken finger, Tavares took a pass from Mitch Marner on a 2-on-1 break and fired a shot past Malcolm Subban to notch his fourth goal of the season at 2:33 into overtime.

“I’m just trying to get open and make the passing lane as clear as possible,” Tavares said. “I just wanted to finish off a good play.”

Playing in his first NHL start in his hometown of Toronto, Subban made 35 saves in the loss.

“It would have been nice to get the win,” Subban said. “But it was great to play here finally.”

Auston Matthews also scored for Toronto, and Frederik Andersen stood tall with 37 saves to help the Maple Leafs win their third consecutive game.

“He was by far our best player,” Matthews said of Andersen. “He just kept us in it.”

Max Pacioretty opened the scoring for the Golden Knights early in the third period after a mishap by Toronto defenseman Cody Ceci. Nick Holden’s shot bounced into the slot from the point, and Ceci’s attempted clearance ended up on Pacioretty’s stick, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

Despite a recent 2-for-32 slump on the power play, Toronto finally converted on their sixth opportunity of the night. Matthews broke free from the boards and rifled a shot over Subban’s shoulder, off the crossbar, to tie the game at 8:14 of the third period.

“We basically said, ‘What do we have to lose?’ and just tried to mix things up,” Matthews said about the power-play goal. “We did a great job of moving around and keeping the penalty kill guessing. We regrouped as a five-man unit and made it work.”

Game Notes:

  • Toronto head coach Mike Babcock became the eighth coach in NHL history to reach 700 career victories.
  • Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault played his 300th regular-season game.

Up Next:

  • Golden Knights: Head to Washington to face the Capitals on Saturday night.
  • Maple Leafs: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.
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By Peter Allen Bak
Peter Allen Bak is a part-time writer and reporter based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born and raised in Casa Grande, Arizona, Peter played both football and soccer for his high school team. His passion for sports continued into adulthood, where he became an avid fan of the Las Vegas Raiders, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Peter graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2008, where he honed his writing skills and developed a keen interest in sports business. An enthusiastic traveler, Peter enjoys exploring international destinations during his free time. When he's not globetrotting, he can often be found hiking the scenic trails around Las Vegas or testing his strength and agility through bouldering. In recent years, he has also taken up pickleball. In 2012, Peter married his high school sweetheart, Kimberly. The couple has since welcomed three children into their lives: their son Connor, and twin daughters Kiara and Kacey.