ANAHEIM – NHL GAME RECAP: The Toronto Maple Leafs are keeping their foot on the gas as the regular season nears its final stretch, grinding out a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night. In a back-and-forth tilt that tested Toronto’s resilience, it was Steven Lorentz who played the hero, tipping in the game-winner midway through the third.
With the win, Toronto improves to 45-25-4, collecting points in four straight games (3-0-1) and seven of their last eight (6-1-1)—a surge that keeps them firmly in the playoff picture and brimming with confidence.
Lorentz Lifts Leafs to Another Gritty Victory
Steven Lorentz doesn’t get the headlines every night, but his clutch factor can’t be ignored. At 11:35 of the third period, the gritty forward redirected a feed past Ducks netminder Lukas Dostal for his seventh goal of the season, and more importantly, his fourth game-winning goal.
The play was set up by David Kämpf, who recorded his eighth assist on a milestone night—his 300th career game as a Leaf. Simon Benoit also earned the secondary assist, setting a new single-season NHL career high with eight assists.
Marner Joins Leafs Legends with 5-Game Point Streak
Mitch Marner was at it again, notching his 23rd goal of the season on a second-period breakaway that gave the Leafs a 2-0 lead. The tally extended Marner’s point streak to five games (2G, 6A)—marking the 30th time in his career he’s achieved a five-game streak.
That feat places him among the all-time elite in Leafs history. Only Mats Sundin (37), Darryl Sittler (32), and Auston Matthews (31) have managed as many.
Domi Opens the Door, Woll Closes It
Max Domi kicked off the scoring late in the first period with a slick backhander for his eighth goal of the season, assisted by Scott Laughton—his first helper as a Maple Leaf. Laughton now has two points in his last three games (1G, 1A) since joining the blue and white.
In net, Joseph Woll turned away 28 of 30 shots, locking things down after the Ducks tied it up early in the third. Calm and confident, Woll credited his teammates for keeping tight defensively and blocking key lanes in the final frame.
Stat Sheet Standouts & Team Trends
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Chris Tanev led the team with a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 73.08%—a shutdown clinic.
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Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews were on-ice for a team-high 20 shot attempts at even strength.
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Jakob Chychrun and Jake McCabe brought the physical edge with 3 hits apiece, while Carlo led in blocked shots with 5.
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Toronto outshot Anaheim 23-30, but held the edge in quality chances and composure down the stretch.
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Leafs went 0-for-2 on the power play, 3-for-4 on the penalty kill, and improved to 22-12-3 on the road this season.
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The win marked the Leafs’ eighth straight game collecting points vs. Anaheim (7-0-1) dating back to 2021.
Coaches Challenge Drama Early On
The Ducks initiated a coach’s challenge just 2:45 into the game, arguing a high-sticking puck stoppage before a Toronto goal. After review, the NHL’s Situation Room ruled that Mitch Marner played the puck above the shoulder prior to Matthew Knies’ goal, nullifying what would have been an early lead. But the Leafs didn’t let that rattle them.
Looking Ahead: Florida on the Horizon
Toronto returns home to face the Florida Panthers on Wednesday (April 2) in a matchup that could have major playoff implications in the Atlantic Division. The schedule doesn’t ease up, with the Blue Jackets, Lightning, and another tilt with Florida coming in rapid succession.
Final Word: Leafs Stay Hot, Stay Hungry
With depth players delivering, stars surging, and goaltending sharp, the Maple Leafs are showing they’ve got the pieces for a deep run. If they can keep this balance rolling into April, Leafs Nation might finally dare to dream a little bigger.
