Jake McCabe and Nicholas Robertson scored second-period goals to help the Toronto Maple Leafs separate from the host Philadelphia Flyers en route to a 5-2 victory on Saturday.
Auston Matthews, Easton Cowan and Calle Jarnkrok also scored for Toronto, while John Tavares had two assists. Anthony Stolarz, a former Flyer, made 31 saves for the Maple Leafs.
Flyers goalie Dan Vladar allowed four goals on 19 shots before giving way to Aleksei Kolosov early in the third period. Christian Dvorak and Tyson Foerster scored for Philadelphia, which saw its three-game winning streak end.
The Flyers opened the scoring just over a minute into the game, Dvorak’s third of the season, but it was one of the only highlights for the hosts.
About five minutes later, Matthews tied it at 1-1 with his sixth of the campaign. With plenty of traffic in front of the net, Matthews fired a wrist shot from the high slot that went past Vladar.
Philadelphia’s Trevor Zegras hit the post early in the second period, shortly before McCabe gave Toronto a 2-1 lead with a point shot that found the back of the net.
Robertson scored another goal late in the period. Matthew Knies and Robertson crossed on a 2-on-2 run and Knies’ pass set up Robertson for a wrist shot from the slot that solved Vladar.
Vladar allowed another goal – Cowan’s first NHL goal – just 33 seconds into the third period. Tavares served to Cowan, who had plenty of space in the right circle and uncorked a wrist shot just inside the left post.
Philadelphia’s Rodrigo Abols scored to make it 4-2, but the goal was overturned due to Abols’ high stick. However, the Flyers finally got closer on Foerster’s 6-on-4 goal with about four minutes left.
Jarnkrok’s empty net with 18 seconds remaining cemented Toronto’s victory.
Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev was left on a stretcher following a collision in the third period. The veteran defender had just returned from a concussion.
–Field level media
