Auston Matthews and William Nylander lift Maple Leafs past Penguins (Image via: Getty Images) The Toronto Maple Leafs delivered one of their most thrilling performances of the season on Monday night, storming back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 at Scotiabank Arena. In front of an electrified home crowd, Toronto erupted in the third period with four unanswered goals, led by Auston Matthews and William Nylander, to seal a comeback that will be talked about for weeks.The Penguins appeared to have complete control through two periods, dominating possession and outshooting the Maple Leafs 25-8. Erik Karlsson struck first midway through the opening frame, and rookie Ben Kindel added two more goals to give Pittsburgh a commanding lead. However, the third period saw a different Toronto team take the ice—one driven by urgency, leadership, and an unshakable will to win.
Auston Matthews and William Nylander ignite a third-period explosion for Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews set the tone early in the final frame, cutting the Penguins’ lead to 3-1 just over three minutes in. His goal energized the Leafs and shifted momentum entirely in their favor. Soon after, William Nylander, returning to action after missing two games, took over the spotlight. The star winger buried two goals in a span of just over two minutes, erasing the deficit and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | November 03, 2025
Speaking after the game, Matthews praised the team’s grit and focus. “The first two periods, I mean, it wasn’t pretty,” he admitted. “I think just the message was in the third period, let’s just go work. And I’m proud of the way we fought back.” That belief quickly turned into execution, as Bobby McMann completed the comeback with the go-ahead goal at 13:43 of the third period, sealing Toronto’s remarkable 4-3 victory.Anthony Stolarz stood tall between the pipes, stopping 34 shots to keep Toronto in the fight, while Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry made 16 saves but couldn’t withstand the Leafs’ late surge. The victory also marked a crucial statement win for Toronto, proving their ability to rally against top-tier opponents and maintain composure under pressure.This comeback not only highlighted the Maple Leafs’ offensive firepower but also showcased the leadership of Auston Matthews and the impact of William Nylander’s return. It reaffirmed Toronto’s reputation as one of the NHL’s most dangerous teams when the pressure is on.More coverage on NHL:Nikita Kucherov vs Nathan MacKinnon: Lightning set for NHL clash against Avalanche tonight at Ball ArenaConnor McDavid makes history with 1,100th point against Blues, joins NHL legends Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Mike Bossy among all-time greats“They’re Engaged”: Boston Bruins star Jeremy Swayman and Alessandra Iacaboni’s love story reaches a beautiful milestone“Doesn’t make a lot of sense”: Leon Draisaitl calls out referees over Mika Zibanejad’s controversial penalty in Oilers’ OT loss