Preseason Game 51
Maple Leafs 5, Canadiens 1
Monday, September 25, 2017
Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario

Auston Matthews and William Nylander are showing no signs of any sophomore slump so far through the pre-season.

Matthews had a hat trick and an assist and Nylander had a goal and two assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montréal Canadiens 5-1 in an NHL preseason game on Monday night.

Matthews scored his first goal of the game 47 seconds into the first period. His wrist shot from just inside the blue line went over the right shoulder of Canadiens goaltender Al Montoya.

Matthews made it 2-0 at 4:56. Nylander’s initial shot went high, and Matthews batted down the rebound and into an open side of the net.

He scored his third goal in the third period. While on a breakaway, Matthews shot the puck between the legs of Montoya at 3:46.

Matthews has four goals and two assists in three preseason games.

Jeff Petry scored for Montréal while on the power play at 11:37 of the second period.

Nylander scored at 6:03 of the third period to give Toronto a 5-1 lead.

Patrick Marleau also had a goal for Toronto while Frederik Andersen made 20 saves.

Story property of The Globe & Mail, photo property of SB Nation

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BOXSCORE
1st Period
TOR GOAL – 00:43 – Matthews (Komarov, Andersen)
TOR PEN – 01:20 – Zaitsev, hooking
TOR GOAL – 04:56 – Matthews (Zaitsev, Nylander)
TOR PEN – 06:34 – Carrick, tripping
MTL PEN – 15:38 – Gallagher, fighting major
TOR PEN – 15:38 – Hyman, fighting major

2nd Period
TOR GOAL – 03:40 – Marleau (Carrick, Kadri)
TOR PEN – 10:06 – Zaitsev, interference
MTL PP GOAL – 11:37 – Petry (Mete)
MTL PEN – 12:58 – Hemsky, slashing

3rd Period
TOR GOAL – 03:46 – Matthews (van Riemsdyk)
MTL PEN – 05:17 – Froese, slashing
TOR PP GOAL – 06:02 – Nylander (Matthews)
MTL PEN – 18:05 – Mitchell, slashing

GOALTENDERS
TOR – Andersen (W, 22-23)
MTL – Montoya (L, 10-15)

SHOTS ON GOAL
TOR – 4+7+4 = 15
MTL – 5+11+7 = 23

ROSTERS
TOR – Goaltenders: Frederik Andersen, Kasimir Kaskisuo. Defence: Connor Carrick, Jake Gardiner, Ron Hainsey, Michael Paliotta, Roman Polak, Morgan Rielly, Calle Rosen, Nikita Zaitsev. Forwards: Miro Aaltonen, Tyler Bozak, Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, Nazem Kadri, Leo Komarov, Patrick Marleau, Mitchell Marner, Matt Martin, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, James van Riemsdyk.
MTL – Goaltenders: Jake Hildebrand, Al Montoya. Defence: Karl Alzner, Jordie Benn, Brandon Davidson, Victor Mete, Jeff Petry, Shea Weber. Forwards: Paul Byron, Phillip Danault, Jacob de la Rose, Byron Froese, Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, Ales Hemsky, Charles Hudon, Artturi Lehkonen, Torrey Mitchell, Max Pacioretty (C), Tomas Plekanec.