The Maple Leafs had Grinched the Winnipeg Jets just about long enough.
It was time to steal one back after Toronto’s six straight wins, in the final pre-Christmas game for both teams on Monday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena.
Now it will be a bit of a bah-humbug break for Toronto, which fell 5-2, recording consecutive losses for the second time this month. While the Leafs are still a strong second in the Atlantic Division (21-12-2), coach Craig Berube was grousing before the game that details in the team’s system are slipping, including the three preceding wins.
Winnipeg, leading the Central Division and tied with New Jersey atop the NHL’s overall standings, hadn’t beaten the Leafs in a few years, which included Toronto ending its eight-game win streak to start this season. Mark Scheifele’s empty-netter completed a hat trick.
The Leafs had a couple of first-period chances against league save-percentage leader Connor Hellebuyck, including a breakaway by Manitoba native Connor Dewar. But it was another Connor, first name Kyle, who opened the scoring for the visitors.
With Mitch Marner off on a rare penalty, a hook that spun Nino Niederreiter hard into Joseph Woll’s post. Connor pounced on a rebound before Woll could get across to his left.
Connor added his 15th goal in 23 career games against Toronto early in the second period, getting a step on defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to tip in Scheifele’s pass, before the Leafs got to work with a double minor when Morgan Rielly was high-sticked.
Anxious to atone, Marner delivered his own fine feed diagonally through the slot to John Tavares for his 200th as a Leaf. Tavares became the fifth NHLer with 200 for two teams, joining Wayne Gretzky, Keith Tkachuk, Lanny McDonald and Mark Messier.
Scheifele, with a Connor assist, made it 3-1 in the third, then jammed the puck through a mouse hole Woll had left trying to hug the post on a stretch pad save.
Tavares added another late in the game, Nylander reaching 40 points with his second assist.
Coach Craig Berube made two changes, resting workhorse defenceman Chris Tanev with what was listed as a lower body injury and winger Ryan Reaves. Philippe Myers, valued for his size and hard shot, came in, partnered with Rielly, and Pontus Holmberg replaced Reaves. Myers had a grand opportunity late in the second period alone on Hellebuyck, but was halted.
The Leafs will be free to make more roster moves if they choose after they play in Detroit on Friday and the NHL holiday roster freeze is lifted. That will likely see Matt Murray recalled to play in the back-to-back against Washington.
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