Fraser Minten scored his first NHL aim, and William Nylander had a aim and an help for the Maple Leafs (12-6-2), who gained their third straight recreation and are 6-1-0 of their previous seven. Mitch Marner and John Tavares every had two assists.
Toronto was with out injured forwards Auston Matthews (higher physique), Max Domi (decrease physique), Max Pacioretty (decrease physique) and David Kampf (decrease physique) in addition to ahead Ryan Reaves, who was serving the primary of a five-game suspension for an unlawful examine to the top of Darnell Nurse in a 4-3 extra time win towards the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
“We performed onerous greater than something,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube stated. “Resilient, battled and competed, it was a heavy recreation like we thought. I believed our guys did an actual good job with the physicality half, grinding, being affected person, not forcing issues. Vegas is an excellent group, they don’t give you a large number and also you’ve bought to play sensible. I believed our guys performed sensible and it was a battle, although. We battled onerous, actually onerous.”
Adin Hill made 23 saves for the Golden Knights (11-6-2), who’re 2-3-1 of their previous six video games.
“There wasn’t a variety of rush alternative tonight across the web,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy stated. “I truly thought our 5-on-5 recreation was superb popping out of the second interval however the third interval was uncharacteristic of us, didn’t do a lot proper. I believed we misplaced a variety of races and battles and the sport modified on the penalty kill.”
The Maple Leafs went up 1-0 at 8:53 of the primary interval when Minten, who was making his season debut and enjoying his fifth NHL recreation, took Nylander’s backhand cross from beneath the aim line and shot low to the glove facet from the slot.
“It was enjoyable, it felt nice,” Minten stated. “I bought a line change there and typically if you come off the bench on the frenzy they don’t actually decide you up, so I simply tried to remain within the quiet ice there. I do know ‘Willy’ sees every little thing, so I simply was ready for one thing and he made a fantastic cross.”