Gardiner scores OT winner as Matthews’ Leafs prevail over Laine’s Jets
TORONTO — The storybook ending was there again for Patrik Laine.
Auston Matthews was in the penalty box for hooking with the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs deadlocked in overtime. But instead of Laine scoring his third goal of the evening for the OT winner — as he did in the first meeting of the first two picks of the 2016 draft four months earlier — it was the Matthews-led Leafs who prevailed Tuesday night.
Matthews picked up three assists, including the set-up of Jake Gardiner’s overtime winner as the Leafs jumped back into the third playoff spot in the Atlantic Division with a 5-4 win. Laine scored twice in defeat, becoming the first rookie in franchise history (which includes the Atlanta Thrashers and not the former Winnipeg Jets) to score 30 goals.
“It’s always nice when both teams are scoring,” Laine said afterward. “When I’m scoring it’s always a lot of fun.”