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Matthews’s hat trick, game-winner leads Maple Leafs to 6-5 comeback win over Jets

Matthews's hat trick, game-winner leads Maple Leafs to 6-5 comeback win over Jets | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) celebrates his goal with Nicholas Robertson (89) and Troy Stecher (28) as Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) reacts during third period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, January 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO — Captain Auston Matthews registered his 14th career hat trick, including the game-winner, to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-5 comeback win against the struggling Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.

Jets netminder Eric Comrie could not freeze a loose puck at the side of his goal. It slid to a wide-open Matthews in front with 4:22 remaining for the Maple Leafs’ (19-15-6) fourth win in five outings.

Winnipeg (15-20-6) squandered a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes for its eighth loss in a row. Mark Scheifele scored two goals and set up another to lead the Jets.

After Scheifele put his team ahead 5-4 with a power-play snipe, Troy Stecher’s slapper and Matthews’s third put Toronto ahead for good. Matthews pulled to within one goal of tying Mats Sundin’s franchise record of 420 goals.

The Jets outshot the homeside 39-30 before 18,860 at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto backup Dennis Hildeby picked up the win, relieving Joseph Woll early in the second period after he allowed four goals on 18 shots.

The Maple Leafs were without William Nylander (lower body) for the third straight game. Dakota Joshua (kidney) and Chris Tanev (lower body) were also absent.

Takeaways

Leafs: With his second goal, Matthews set a franchise record for goals at home with 232, passing Darryl Sittler’s 44-year-old mark. Matthews has three goals and six points in his last three games.

Jets: Have won just three times since Nov. 18, having gone 3-13-4 in their last 20 games.

Key moment

Matthews scored on the power play with two seconds remaining in the second period to pull the Maple Leafs to within 4-3.

Key stat

When the Jets defeated the Maple Leafs in Toronto 374 days ago, Winnipeg was first overall, and the Maple Leafs were atop the Atlantic Division. The two teams entered their match on Thursday with the Jets last overall and Toronto only 10 spots better at 22nd.

Up next

Jets: Visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Leafs: Visit the New York Islanders on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2026.

Matthews's hat trick, game-winner leads Maple Leafs to 6-5 comeback win over Jets | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby (35) stops Winnipeg Jets’ Adam Lowry (17) during third period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, January 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

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The Canadian Press

Tim Wharnsby

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.

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