Maple Leafs Player Unleashes Superman Punch During NHL Fight

Benoit also played a key role earlier in the game, scoring Toronto’s third goal to cap a dominant start for the Leafs.

Fellow Leafs William Nylander and Calle Jarnkrok had given Toronto a 2–0 lead in the first period, and Benoit’s point shot early in the second made it 3–0. 

Utah stormed back and tied the game at 3–3 by the end of the third frame. Despite Utah’s surge, the Leafs’ defense held firm, and once in the shootout, Auston Matthews and Marner converted for Toronto, lifting the Maple Leafs to their first win in four games.

Benoit described the decision to go for a superman punch after the game, per The Hockey News' Evan Doerfler.

“I think, just in the moment, I felt I had an opening there, and I just took it,” Benoit said. "He wanted (to get) his guys going there, and he asked me. Little smirk, he tried to kind of hurt Bobby (McMann) there in the middle faceoff, so I stepped up and protected my teammate.”

The victory followed a team-only meeting held on Sunday, where head coach Craig Berube emphasized the need for defensive improvement. 

“Guys spoke, and we’re trying to get this thing straightened out,” Berube said. “We’ve been a good defensive team all year, and we have to get back on that.”

With the losing streak behind them, the Leafs improved to 9–3-1 over their last 13 games.

The Leafs exit Monday with a 39-22-3 record and 81 points, two behind the Atlantic Division leaders, the Florida Panthers, and three ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning in third, albeit the latter have one game in hand over Toronto.