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Leafs edge Habs after back-and-forth affair

Mar 9, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN: Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki (14) wins a faceoff against Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) during the first period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Max Domi had a goal and an assist as the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday night.

Bobby McMann and John Tavares also scored for Toronto, which has won four of its past six games. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 29 saves.

Mike Matheson had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, while Juraj Slafkovsky had two helpers. Alex Newhook also scored, and Sam Montembeault turned aside 24 shots.

Montreal opened the scoring 38 seconds into the game. A pretty passing sequence from Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield culminated with a nice move in front of the net from Matheson, who put the puck past Samsonov.

Shortly afterward, both teams seemed to be lulled into sluggish play following a lengthy delay because of a glass replacement in the penalty box. The interruption lasted nearly 10 minutes starting at 2:21 of the first period, leading to a lack of crispness that lasted for the remainder of the opening frame.

The Maple Leafs got on the board 39 seconds into the middle stanza, knotting the game at 1. Montreal’s David Savard was unable to corral the puck at Toronto’s blue line, sending McMann up the ice for his 10th goal of the season.

Toronto scored again with 1:19 left in the second period when Domi, using a burst of speed down the middle of the ice, popped a floating shot under the glove of Montembeault to give the Maple Leafs their first lead of the game at 2-1.

The game would be tied again 5:05 into the third period thanks to a power-play goal from Newhook. It was Newhook’s 10th marker of the season.

Tavares bounced the puck off his leg for the go-ahead goal with 6:46 remaining in the contest. He now has 20 goals on the season.

–Field Level Media

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