Matthew Knies' 4-point performance powers Maple Leafs past Ducks

Matthew Knies recorded a goal and three assists Thursday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Anaheim Ducks 6-4.

Matias Maccelli logged a goal and two assists while William Nylander and John Tavares had one goal and one assist apiece for the Maple Leafs, who ended an 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 snapped a 12-game goalless drought before he left the game late in the second period with a lower-body injury. He did not return.

Cutter Gauthier, Ian Moore, Pavel Mintyukov and Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks, who have lost two of three. Jeffrey Viel notched two assists, and Lukas Dostal stopped 22 shots.

Michael Pezzetta, promoted by the Maple Leafs on Thursday from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, fought with Viel at 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 and steamed down the right wing before shooting from the circle.

Seconds after a Toronto penalty expired, Gauthier scored at 12:19 on a carom off the end boards.

Anaheim took a 2-1 lead at 14:26 of the first on Moore's shot from the inner edge of the right circle off Jansen Harkins' pass from behind the goal line.

Mintyukov scored from the left circle at 2:55 of the second period on a pass from Ryan Poehling for a 3-1 edge.

Matthews scored with a one-timer from the right circle during a power play at 10:47 of the second. Jacob Trouba was off for tripping.

Anaheim's Radko Gudas was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct at 15:47 of the second for a knee-on-knee hit on Matthews, who was helped to the dressing room.

Tavares scored on the power play on a 47-footer at 16:26 of the second to tie the game 3-3.

Nylander produced the second goal during Gudas' major 34 seconds into the third period to give Toronto the lead.

Groulx scored a short-handed goal at 8:35 of the third, his second career NHL goal and his first since Nov. 7, 2021.

Knies scored into an empty net at 18:12 and Killorn tallied at 19:34 of a chippy third period that featured assorted skirmishes.

--Field Level Media