3 Leafs-Jets picks: Domi shines, Ekman-Larsson’s joint offense, Matthews is back

At the end of a long journey, let’s skip the introduction! Here are three takeaways from the Leafs’ win over the Jets:

Max Domi stands out in his 200th game with the Maple Leafs

Domi’s tenure with the Maple Leafs may also seem like a roller coaster, but he was consistent all night and may have found his optimized role. He is clearly best suited as a right winger in the top six, where his playmaking shines, his defensive responsibilities are minimal, he can step up for his star centers in scrums and stay involved in the game with plenty of puck touches. Domi made the most of his opportunity with the resurgent Auston Matthews and cooked up Saturday night.

This game could have quickly gotten out of hand for the Leafs after Kyle Connor gave the Jets a 2-0 lead. On the next shift, Morgan Rielly cleverly squeezed the offensive zone and got the puck to Domi, who was behind the net. Domi calmly assessed the situation and saw Matthews cut through the middle of the ice without much resistance. Matthews made no mistake on the release and scored 23 seconds after Connor’s goal, changing the tenor of the game.

Domi also exuded a lot of confidence throughout the match and went for a spectacular between-the-legs attempt, which he could not lift above Connor Hellebuyck. He was fully dialed in and Toronto’s first line of Domi, Matthews and Bobby McMann all stepped up to the plate in Saturday’s win, which bodes well for Monday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

After the game, Domi thanked the fans for their support during the road trip.

“We have the best fans in the world, and it’s not even close,” Domi said after the match. “Last night we arrived late, it was freezing and pitch black, and there were about 100 fans waiting for us.”

A concerted attacking effort from Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s attacking efforts have not gone unnoticed, but he put in another great performance from the blue line on Saturday. We highlighted Rielly’s clever squeeze on Matthews’ goal, and Ekman-Larsson made several clever analyzes throughout the match.

Ekman-Larsson also sparked the early stages of the comeback, scoring three minutes and 30 seconds after Nino Niederreiter had given the Jets a 3-1 lead. Easton Cowan and Nick Robertson took off in the rush, with Robertson bursting down the wing and mapping the ice as he entered the offensive zone. Robertson turned away from Logan Stanley and saw Ekman-Larsson jump into the game with a sharp horizontal pass. The veteran defenseman then tapped the puck into the top corner, once again reducing the Jets’ deficit.

For a moment it looked like Ekman-Larsson scored his second goal of the match, but that was clearly denied by Bobby McMann. Ekman-Larsson and Rielly planned to provide offense all night against a powerless Jets team that likely wouldn’t pose much danger on the counterattack.

Auston Matthews is back, tell a friend and tell ten more

Matthews scored the Leafs’ opening goal after a smart read from Domi and seemingly improved as the match progressed, a welcome sign for a Leafs team that has often struggled. It was an excellent game from Matthews and he almost buried the winner, but was stopped by a kick save from Jets forward Mark Scheifele.

“I think they’re cheering for a reason, so I just take it for what it is and just have fun with it because a lot of times it’s fun, especially when you’re on the right side like tonight,” Matthews said after the game, about the booing from the Winnipeg crowd.