Komarov, Matthews lead Leafs to win in Arizona
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It was Auston Matthews night on Friday in Arizona, but Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Leo Komarov stole the show.
The Leafs left winger had a pair of goals and Matthews assisted on Connor Brown's goal as Toronto defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-1 at Gila River Arena to win for the first time in seven tries on the back end of back-to-back games (1-5-1) this season. Frederik Anderson made 30 saves for Toronto.
Shane Doan had the lone goal for Arizona, the 400th of his career. The Coyotes got 28 saves from Mike Smith but dropped their fourth straight game.
The game marked Matthews first NHL game in Arizona since the Maple Leafs selected him first overall in the 2016 draft.
Scottsdale product Matthews said he wanted to make a statement in his first game back in his home state and he wasted little time making an impact. One shift after taking the opening faceoff against Doan, a boyhood idol, Matthews stole an errant pass from Coyotes center Martin Hanzal that bounced off Matthew's skate, off the skate of Arizona's Radim Vrbata and back onto Matthews' stick just inside the Coyotes blue line. Matthews curled back toward the Coyotes goal and set up teammate Connor Brown on the right wing for a quick shot and a 1-0 lead at 3:04 of the first period.
Frederik Andersen made 14 first-period saves to keep Toronto on top and the Leafs repaid him with an early second-period goal on a power play with Connor Murphy in the penalty box for high-sticking. With Komarov setting a screen in front of Smith, defenseman Jake Gardiner sent a high slap-shot toward the net that Komarov redirected under Smith's glove hand 43 seconds into the period for a 2-0 lead.
Doan pulled the Coyotes within 2-1 with 43.4 seconds left in the second period. Defenseman Connor Murphy hit Doan in stride as he raced down the left side of the slot and Doan redirected it into an open net. The goal came in Doan's 1,500th career NHL game.
Komarov scored his second goal of the night to give the Leafs insurance when a loose puck hopped over Coyotes defenseman Michael Stone's stick in the neutral zone, sending Komarov in on a breakaway. Komarov deked Smith to his knees and slid a puck between Smith's legs as he cut across the slot for a 3-1 lead at 6:26 of the third period.
Leafs right winger William Nylander widened the lead to 4-1 on another breakaway off a feed from defenseman Morgan Rielly at 11:31 of the third.
NOTES: Five hundred members of the Arizona Bobcats, Junior Coyotes and other youth hockey programs were in attendance to watch Maple Leafs rookie C Auston Matthews. Matthews played for the Bobcats and Junior Coyotes while growing up in Scottsdale, Ariz. ... Coyotes captain Shane Doan played his 1,500th game, moving him past Mike Modano into 17th place on the NHL's all-time list. "It's gone by really fast," said Doan, who was showered with cowboy hats by fans to mark the moment. ... Arizona rookie D Jakob Chychrun (upper body) and RW Ryan White (lower body) did not play. Chychrun took two big hits against Edmonton on Wednesday and was held out of the game while he went through the league-mandated concussion protocol. ... Coyotes D Anthony DeAngelo and Kevin Connauton returned to the lineup. ... Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock let Matthews take the opening faceoff to honor his return to his home state. ... Babcock opted to go with starting G Frederik Andersen in both ends of back-to-back games because the three-day Christmas break began after Friday's contest.