Fraser Minten scored his first NHL goal, and the Toronto Maple Leafs blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 on Wednesday night despite losing forward Matthew Knies to injury.
William Nylander added his 13th goal of the season on a power play early in the third period, while Pontus Holmberg sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
Goaltender Joseph Woll was stellar, stopping all 31 shots for his first shutout of the season. Adin Hill made 23 saves for the Golden Knights, who have now dropped two straight as coach Bruce Cassidy remains one win shy of 400 career victories.
Toronto has won six of its last seven games, while Vegas struggled offensively, going 0 for 3 on the power play.
Takeaways
Maple Leafs: Injuries continue to mount for Toronto, with captain Auston Matthews (upper body) missing his seventh straight game and Knies leaving in the second period after a hard hit. The team is also without Max Domi, David Kampf, Max Pacioretty, and Calle Jarnkrok, while Ryan Reaves is serving a five-game suspension.
Golden Knights: Vegas feels the absence of captain Mark Stone (lower body), who has missed six straight games. The Knights could not capitalize on their opportunities with the man advantage, a stark contrast to their usual power-play efficiency.
Key Moment
Midway through the second period, Matthew Knies was leveled by a punishing mid-ice hit from Zach Whitecloud near the Maple Leafs’ bench. Knies did not return due to an upper-body injury. Whitecloud was penalized for roughing after tangling with Simon Benoit, who received a double-minor in the aftermath. The hit raised the physicality of the game significantly.
Key Stat
Toronto’s penalty kill was flawless, shutting down the NHL’s second-best power play as Vegas went 0 for 3 with the man advantage.
Up Next
- Maple Leafs: Host the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday to close out their three-game homestand.
- Golden Knights: Continue their five-game road trip Thursday in Ottawa.