4 takeaways from Leafs-Penguins: Matthews, Nylander to the rescue in dramatic 3rd-period comeback

Nylander then notched the game-tying goal, wiring home a shot from the point, and the Maple Leafs tied the game in the span of three minutes and 24 seconds.

Bobby McMann, who was considered by some to be a scratch candidate, scored the game-winning goal, registering his first point in eight games. It was a terrific comeback for the Maple Leafs, although their defensive and power play woes remain real problems, and head coach Craig Berube wasn’t pleased about his team’s performance.

“I didn’t think our first period was that bad,” Berube said post-game. “Made a mistake on the first goal. The second goal, it’s a bounce. What upsets me is, we come out in the second period down 2-0, you think we’re going to make a push and we didn’t.”

Berube declined to get into the specifics of his speech at the second intermission, although Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz implored reporters to use their imagination.

“I have no clue. I don’t have an answer for that,” Berube said. “The second period, they got the puck and did whatever they wanted with it, and we didn’t check anybody. We didn’t knock anybody off the puck. And when we did get it, we gave it back to them. It’s not good enough.”

Here are four takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 4-3 comeback victory over the Penguins 

Knies-Matthews-Nylander to the rescue 

It was a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency type of scenario for the Maple Leafs entering the third period, as Berube loaded up his top line with three of his four best forwards. Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews and William Nylander engineered a third-period comeback, and the sheer firepower was too much for the Penguins to handle.

Matthews escaped for a breakaway, sprung by Jake McCabe, while a pair of Nylander goals tied the game up. You need your best players to be your best players, and for 20 minutes, that was the case.

“Obviously, Willy and Matthews and Knies’ line did what they’re capable of doing, and our goalie was good,” Berube said post-game.

Matthews was given the team belt for his efforts, awarded to the best or most impactful player in a victory. After the game, Matthews offered a honest self-assessment of the comeback required.

“We’ve been in situations like that before,” Matthews said post-game. “I think the message is, not as much as it was great to obviously come back and get the two points and have a great third period. I think the focus should be on the first two periods and why we lacked all those different things that got us down in the game in the first place. So that’s something that we’ll figure out. But we’ll take the two points and move on and continue to try to build our game.”

Matthews improved as the period went on, and elicited cheers with two huge blocks on the penalty kill later in the third period. It was an ugly 40 minutes, but it speaks to the Leafs’ true talent level, that it can beat opponents with a few moments of brilliance when called upon, even if it’s a long-term recipe for disaster.

Nylander was more blunt in his assessment, believing his team’s effort was unacceptable, and didn’t appear to be revelling in one strong period, despite his leading contributions to the victory. It was a strong return to the lineup, after missing three of the past four games.

As Berube looks to find the ideal line combinations, it’s clear that The Emergency Line can overwhelm opponents when counted upon. It can’t be the only answer for the Maple Leafs, and there needs to be better contributions from the bottom-six, but Matthews and Nylander did what was expected of franchise players during the third period, and for one night, it was enough.

Nick Robertson was the Leafs’ most consistent player through 60 minutes

Nick Robertson remained on the top line with Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews, and through 40 minutes, he was the Maple Leafs’ lone bright spot. Robertson played with constant energy, he was delivering hits, extending plays and displayed a tenacity that his teammates lacked through the first two periods. There are times where Robertson’s relentlessness doesn’t show up in the scoresheet, but he was richly rewarded for his effort throughout the night, setting up Bobby McMann’s game-winning goal. Robertson fished the puck out of the corner, drove the net, and McMann jammed the rebound in.

McMann needed this moment, after being held without a point for eight games. Berube indicated that McMann was playing up to his expectations to begin the year, but his speed and tenacity in waned in recent games, so it was a timely goal, for a Maple Leafs team that needed this victory in early November.

“I just think the opportunity he’s been able to have, playing in the top-six,” Matthews said of Robertson post-game. “He works, he works, he can shoot the puck like few people can. He’s a smaller guy but he’s not afraid to go to the dirty areas, and battle and compete. He’s been playing great for us the last couple of weeks and he played great tonight.”

It’s fitting that Robertson finished with a 66 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5. Matthews, Nylander and McMann’s goals will be what people remember from this game, but he was the Leafs’ most consistent player throughout the contest, and made an excellent play on the winner.

Maple Leafs’ rush defence continues to be alarming

We don’t enjoy being negative in this space, but the Leafs’ rush defence continues to be alarming. OK, Sidney Crosby can scorch anyone with cross-seam passes, so perhaps some grace should be extended on Erik Karlsson’s game-opening goal. Karlsson wired a shot into the top corner that Stolarz had no chance at off the rush, taking a perfect saucer from Crosby. This goal was created directly off a turnover: Simon Benoit fumbled the puck in the offensive zone, and the Penguins raced away, as Crosby surveyed the ice and tossed the cross-seam over to Karlsson. Jake McCabe tied up the crashing man, but Benoit and John Tavares are barely in the frame.

This may be lost in the Leafs’ victory, but the team is surrendering tons of chances off the rush every game, and with Chris Tanev out of the lineup, there needs to be a concerted effort to track back and close gaps. Penguins rookie Ben Kindel picked up second and third-chance opportunities throughout the game, and the Leafs can’t allow teams to dominate the counterattack. It will be a work in progress throughout the year.

Easton Cowan’s promotion to top power play unit doesn’t pay immediate dividends

Easton Cowan was promoted to the top power play unit, which served both as a reward for his strong start, along with a much-needed jolt to the Leafs’ dormant group. This was at least the thinking behind the move, but Cowan’s presence didn’t make a difference. Toronto squandered its lone opportunity with the man advantage during the first period, generating one shot, while routinely getting their entries swatted.

To be clear, this doesn’t lie squarely on Cowan, as the entry sequences from Rielly, Matthews and Nylander were poor. Cowan should get another look, while executing the short-area passes that he’s quickly gaining traction for. Toronto’s power play is converting at a 12.1 percent clip, the second-worst total in the league. Perhaps Cowan needs another look during Wednesday’s game against the Utah Mammoth.