Tavares’ 3-point night tops Ducks
John Tavares scored his second goal of the game at 4:53 of overtime, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Anaheim Ducks 5-4 on Friday night.
Tavares, who also had an assist, scored his 22nd goal of the season on a tip-in of a shot by Mitch Marner during a power play with Rickard Rakell off for tripping.
Auston Matthews had a goal and three assists, and Andreas Johnsson and Jason Spezza each added a goal for Toronto. Marner had three assists.
Nicolas Deslauriers, Max Jones, Adam Henrique and Derek Grant scored for the Ducks, who twice tied the game in the third period. Cam Fowler had two assists for Anaheim.
Goaltender Jack Campbell stopped 26 shots in his first start for Toronto. Campbell and left winger Kyle Clifford were obtained Wednesday in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings.
Ryan Miller made 29 saves for the Ducks.
Johnsson scored his eighth goal this season at 4:36 of the first period from the right circle.
Deslauriers tied the game with his second goal this season at 10:36 of the first from the right circle.
The Maple Leafs failed to score when they had a twoman advantage for one minute, 42 seconds late in the first.
Tavares scored from the right circle at 3:38 of the second period on a power play. Josh Manson was off for interference.
Matthews notched his 40th of the season on a onetimer from the right circle at 13:18 of the second. The goal matched his career best for a season.
Jones scored his seventh goal on a short-handed effort with a backhand at 8:34 of the third period.
Henrique scored his 18th goal on a power play at 12:47 of the third with Clifford off for holding the stick.
Spezza put Toronto ahead with his ninth goal from a sharp angle at 16:33. BLUE JACKETS 2, RED WINGS 0>> Elvis Merzlikins got a fifth shutout in his last eight starts, and Columbus extended its points streak to 10 games.
Zach Werenski’s secondperiod goal, his 17th of the season, broke a franchise season scoring record for defensemen for the Blue Jackets, who have won three straight and nine of 10.
SABRES 3, RANGERS 2 >> Jimmy Vesey had a goal and an assist against his former team, Carter Hutton stopped 37 shots, and Buffalo held on to beat New York.
Zemgus Girgensons and Sam Reinhart also scored to help Buffalo get just its second win in seven games. WILD 3, STARS 2 >> Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek scored the second of his two goals with 25.7 seconds left in regulation, and the visiting Wild beat Dallas.