Jets score three in third to defeat Maple Leafs again

TORONTO --The Winnipeg Jets scored three times in the third period to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton each had a goal and an assist, and Laurent Brossoit made 20 saves for the Jets (17-8-2), who were 2-0-1 in the three-game set and 3-1-1 on a five-game road trip.
"We knew it was going to be tough. They're a fantastic team and they show that night in and night out," Scheifele said. "It was a big win for us, a huge two points and a great road trip. I thought it was a great 60 minutes for us, we played awesome. You know you're playing against a lot of skilled players, so you have to be prepared for that, and I thought we kept getting better and better as the game went on."
Jake Muzzin and William Nylander scored, and Frederik Andersen made 27 saves for the Maple Leafs (19-8-2), who have lost four of their past five games.
"I thought we had a real hard time stringing together two passes tonight. We just didn't have a good game," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "We weren't sharp mentally, weren't sharp physically, couldn't get our game going. We just weren't even close tonight with how we played."
Lowry gave the Jets a 3-2 lead at 7:39 of the third period, scoring five-hole with a backhand from the top of the crease after receiving a pass from behind the net by Appleton.
"We know that as a team we could play a little tighter, a little better, but it was definitely our best effort of the three games," Lowry said. "I don't know if we were looking to make a statement, we were just trying to finish the road trip on the right foot and I think we're happy how it went."

Nikolaj Ehlers made it 4-2 at 14:34 with a power-play goal, and Scheifele extended the lead to 5-2 at 16:32 during a 5-on-3.
"I don't think we made it hard enough on their goalie, and in saying that, we had a great opportunity going into the third," Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said. "We've got to find a way to come out on the right side of it and make the plays needed and obviously defend better than we did"
Appleton gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead at 1:41 of the second period when Lowry's centering pass redirected off his skate.
"I wouldn't number their line three, that's how good (they were)," Jets coach Paul Maurice said of Lowry, Appleton and Andrew Copp, who had two assists. "They were true to their identity and they've been building toward it. We saw Appleton driving the net all series. They're not a line you put on the ice to hold water anymore, they'll just generate in a different way with net drive or win battles behind the net. They were really good."

Muzzin tied it 1-1 at 5:03 of the second with a shorthanded goal, and Nylander gave the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead on a 2-on-1 with Tavares at 7:12.
Paul Stastny tied it 2-2 at 16:34 when he deflected Scheifele's shot in the slot.
"We're obviously very aware of the standings, where we are, where they are," Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly said. "We were aware what's going on. It will be interesting down the stretch, we play them a bunch more times, so it's important that we learn from these games and move forward."
NOTES: Maple Leafs forward Joe Thornton had an assist playing in his 1,653rd game, which moved him past Mark Recchi for sixth in NHL history. … Nylander has scored seven goals in his past nine games.