Scheifele’s three-point night wasn’t enough as the Jets fell 6-5 to the Maple Leafs

The Jets took a 2-0 lead in the second half of the first period. Gabriel Vilardi joined Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor in a hurry, and Scheifele set up Vilardi in the slot, where he fired his 17th of the season past Joseph Woll. Just over three minutes later, Dylan DeMelo fired a shot from the point that deflected off Leafs forward Auston Matthews’ stick and into the net for DeMelo’s second of the season and his first goal since Oct. 26 against the Utah Mammoth.

Winnipeg led 2-0 after 20 minutes while holding an 11-7 advantage in shots.

Toronto didn’t get on the board until 1:37 into the second period when Max Domi threw the puck at the net and Matthews, crashing the crease, put it past Eric Comrie for his 16th of the season to make it 2-1.

Alex Iafallo restored Winnipeg’s two-goal cushion just 37 seconds later, cutting into the slot and beating Woll with a slick backhand for his seventh of the year.

Mark Scheifele added his 19th of the season at 5:24 to make it 4-1 Jets, forcing Toronto to make a goal change. Dennis Hildeby replaced Woll after allowing four goals on 17 shots.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson cut the Jets’ lead in half at 11:04 with his seventh of the campaign. Scott Laughton saw Ekman-Larsson cut into the slot and fired a wrist shot past Comrie’s blocker.

With just three seconds left in the middle frame, Matthews scored his second of the game on the power play, bringing Toronto within one.

Winnipeg had a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes and defeated Toronto 28-19.

Matias Maccelli tied the game at the 6:30 mark of the third period when the Jets failed to clear their zone and the puck found its way to him at the left faceoff point, where he fired one past Comrie for his sixth of the season.

Just 2:50 later on the power play, Scheifele put the Jets ahead again with his second goal of the game, firing a shot past Hildeby from the right faceoff point.

Toronto tied the score again at 13:13 when Troy Stecher one-timed his second of the season past Comrie to make it 5-5.

Matthews completed his hat trick at 15:38 when Comrie misplayed the puck, allowing it to jump to Matthews, who buried his 18th of the season in the open cage.

Winnipeg pushed for an equalizer in the final minute, but strong saves from Hildeby secured Toronto’s second straight win.

Comrie stopped 24 shots as the Jets once again fell by one goal.