Landeskog Scores Twice as Avalanche Beat Maple Leafs 6-3 in Toronto

Gabriel Landeskog scored twice, and the second one settled the game. The Colorado Avalanche beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night, pulling away in the third period after Toronto had tied the game at 3-3.

Toronto struck first. Darren Raddysh one-timed a pass from Auston Matthews over Mackenzie Blackwood's blocker at 3:33 of the first period, a goal that was his first with the Maple Leafs in his 20th game with the club. Brock Nelson tied it 1-1 at 16:09, taking a chip pass from T.J. Hughes to skate in alone on Sergei Bobrovsky and scoring between his pads. Landeskog put Colorado ahead 2-1 at 17:26, jamming in a rebound after Nicolas Roy drove to the net.

Devon Toews made it 3-1 at 3:31 of the second period, beating Bobrovsky to the blocker side with a shot from the point through traffic. Toronto cut the lead before the period ended. Easton Cowan scored on the power play at 19:31, stepping toward the net after a pass from Gavin McKenna and shooting short side from below the right face-off dot.

Jack Roslovic tied it 3-3 at 4:11 of the third period, holding off Brett Kulak on a breakaway and pushing a backhand through Blackwood's pads. The tie lasted 51 seconds. Landeskog redirected a cross-crease pass from Nazem Kadri at the left side of the crease to put Colorado back ahead 4-3.

Colorado closed it out late. Artturi Lehkonen made it 5-3 at 17:15, taking a pass from Cale Makar on a breakaway after a line change and shooting between Bobrovsky's pads from the slot. Martin Necas shot into an empty net at 17:30 for the 6-3 final.

Toews finished with a goal and an assist, Makar had two assists, and Blackwood made 28 saves for Colorado. Raddysh, Cowan and Roslovic each had a goal and an assist for Toronto, and Bobrovsky made 22 saves.

The win moved Colorado to 11-6-2, with points in six of its past seven games at 5-1-1. Toronto fell to 8-10-2 and has lost four games in a row. The result also squared the season series between the clubs, after Toronto won the first meeting 6-3 in Colorado on Oct. 10.

The game opened a three-game road trip through Canada for Colorado, Colorado Hockey Now reported. For Toronto, the loss extended a hard homestand, and Sports Illustrated noted the Maple Leafs had already been shut out by New Jersey and beaten by Montreal and Utah on the same stand before Colorado arrived.