Leafs defeat Blackhawks, slip into first place in Atlantic

Nicholas Robertson scored two goals and Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev each had a goal and an assist to lift the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

Toronto overtook Florida atop the Atlantic Division by one point in winning the opener of a four-game road trip. Robertson's second career multi-goal game backed a 25-save effort from goaltender Joseph Woll.

Chicago opened the scoring in the closing seconds of the first period on a goal by Teuvo Teravainen but was unable to sustain the momentum en route to its sixth loss in the past seven games. Tyler Bertuzzi assisted on both goals for the Blackhawks.

A three-goal second period proved the difference for the Maple Leafs. Robertson had not scored since Jan. 18, but his first of the night tied the game at 1 at 7:09 of the second. He converted a one-timer in the slot off a feed from Max Domi, who also had two assists.

Toronto took the lead at 9:45 on McCabe's blast from the left point off a faceoff win.

Robertson then put the Maple Leafs ahead 3-1 with 15 seconds remaining in the second. Domi outraced Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones for a loose puck down the right wall, then slid a pass from outside the right circle to a waiting Robertson in front of the net.

Chicago answered just eight seconds later when Philipp Kurashev beat Woll from outside the crease off a weaving setup from Frank Nazar.

The Maple Leafs restored a two-goal lead at 12:07 of the third period. Tanev sent a wrist shot from the right circle through traffic and past Chicago goalie Arvid Soderblom.

The Blackhawks grabbed a 1-0 lead with 11 seconds left in the first. Teraveinen scored a power-play goal off the rebound of a one-timer to record his 500th career point.

The Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg provided the final margin with an empty-net goal at 18:28 of the third period.

Soderblom made 25 saves for the Blackhawks.

Toronto secured a sweep of the season series. The host Maple Leafs routed the visiting Blackhawks 4-1 on Dec. 2.

--Field Level Media