Streaking Maple Leafs slide past slumping Predators

Auston Matthews scored twice early in the third period and the Toronto Maple Leafs went on to defeat the visiting Nashville Predators 3-2 on Wednesday night.

William Nylander also scored for the Maple Leafs, who have won three in a row and 10 of 12. Mitchell Marner added three assists.

Joseph Woll made 22 saves.

Jonathan Marchessault and Mark Jankowski scored for the Predators, who have lost five in a row. Their three previous losses came in overtime. They have scored two goals in each of the five losses.

Juuse Saros stopped 25 shots.

The Predators scored a fortunate goal at 5:26 of the first period. Marchessault's long shot bounced high off the end barrier, came back over the net and he knocked it in for his fifth goal of the season. It was his 500th career point.

Roman Jossi earned an assist on the goal. The sequence started with a giveaway by Matthews.

Matthews later in the period hit a goal post with a shot.

Josi was shaken up when stopped a shot early in the second period and went to the bench. He returned soon afterward.

Both teams had chances in the final minute of a goal-less second period.

Matthews tied the game 31 seconds into the third period from the slot on a feed from the corner from Marner. Morgan Rielly made a behind-the-net pass to Marner.

Matthews came back with his eighth goal of the season at 2:29 of the third on a backhand from the low slot after Marner's pass. Matthews has scored three goals in three games after missing nine games with an upper-body injury.

Nylander scored his 16th of the season at 5:06 on a 19-foot wrist shot during a five-on-three power play.

Jankowski scored his first goal of the season at 16:38 of the third period on a backhand that went in off the post.

Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe (upper-body injury) missed his second straight game. He was hit by a puck in the side of the head on Saturday in the 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning,

--Field Level Media