The Toronto Maple Leafs’ climb up the Eastern Conference standings continued Monday with a 4-3 overtime win over the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche.
Toronto won its fourth straight game and extended its point streak to 10 games. The Maple Leafs jumped into the top wild-card spot with the win, marking the first time the club has been in the playoff picture since Nov. 7.
William Nylander provided the game-winner on a pass from Oliver Ekman-Larsson on a partial two-on-one with just over a minute left in the extra frame.
“I was just jumping up the ice. I didn’t know if he was going to pass it or shoot it, and then he slid it through and was able to shoot it five-hole,” Nylander said of his overtime winner. “It’s a big win. Great team game. So, just want to keep going.”
Picking up a win over the Avalanche has been no easy feat this season, with Colorado owning 11 more points than any other team and 14 more points than any Eastern Conference club amid their 33-4-8 start.
“Good team effort. Everybody was involved and contributed tonight,” head coach Craig Berube said. “I don’t think they have a regulation loss (at home), right? Couple overtimes now. Three (19-0-3). But they got the best record in the league, so you know you’re in a battle.
“It’s always a battle here no matter what, but I thought our guys rose up to the occasion and did a good job. That’s important, and it shows that we can compete with anybody in the league if we play the right way and do the right things.”
The Maple Leafs have largely gotten healthier amid their point streak, seeing Nylander, Brandon Carlo and Jake McCabe return after injuries, but the lineup could be forced to change again after Nick Robertson left Monday’s win in the first period after blocking a shot on his left leg.
“We’ll see tomorrow. He blocked that shot,” Berube said of the winger’s status. “I really haven’t talked to the trainers or anything about it yet.”
The Maple Leafs will continue their four-game road trip with a matchup against the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday before facing the Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets to close out the week.