Matthews scores two more as part of four-point night as Leafs thump Sens

Michael Hutchinson made 34 saves for the Leafs in place of No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen, who had started 10 straight with Jack Campbell sidelined because of a leg injury. Joseph Woll backed up Hutchinson as the North Division leaders gave Andersen a break from having to dress for the second time this season.

Tim Stutzle, with a goal and an assist, Connor Brown and Drake Batherson replied for Ottawa (4-14-1). Marcus Hogberg allowed one goal on five shots before leaving the game with a lower-body injury midway through the first period. Matt Murray, who played in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss, made 20 saves in relief.

Toronto was also without winger Zach Hyman after he took a shot off the skate Wednesday, while defenceman Zach Bogosian was given a rest. Nic Petan dressed up front, with Mikko Lehtonen slotting in on the blue line.

The rebuilding Senators, meanwhile, were minus star minute-chewing defenceman Thomas Chabot. Christian Wolanin took his spot on the back end, while Artem Anisimov was scratched in favour of Matthew Peca.

The Senators roared back from a 5-1 deficit to secure a stunning 6-5 overtime victory in Monday’s opener — the first time in franchise history Ottawa won a game after trailing by four goals — before the Leafs rebounded with that 2-1 decision Wednesday.

This one never really felt in doubt.

Toronto opened the scoring on its second power play of the night at 10:29 of the first when Matthews fired a shot through Hogberg.

Thornton, who had two goals disallowed Wednesday, finally got his third of the season at 16:43 when he redirected Jake Muzzin’s point shot past Murray.

Stutzle, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, got that one back for Ottawa with a bullet from a tight angle that beat Hutchinson upstairs off the rush 1:08 later for the rookie’s fifth.

But the Leafs restored their two-goal late in the period when Marner fooled Murray with a reverse pass behind the Ottawa net to Matthews, who stuffed home his 16th to make it 3-1.

Mikheyev put Toronto up by three with his second through a screen 1:39 after the restart before Marner dangled around a defender down low and roofed his eighth on Murray at 3:45 to make it 5-1 — a scoreline fans of both teams remember well from Monday.

Hutchinson, who played for the first time since Sept. 4 when he started for the Colorado Avalanche in their Game 7 loss to the Dallas Stars in second round of the 2019-20 playoffs inside the Edmonton bubble, was beaten shortside by Brown for his fourth at 7:37 as the visitors crept to within three.

There would, however, be no stunning comeback this time.

The Leafs restored their four-goal edge at the 11-minute mark on a power play when Nylander, who was called out on the front page of one of Toronto’s daily newspapers Wednesday, banged home a rebound for his first point in six games, and first goal in seven, to carry a 6-2 lead to the locker room.

After Austin Watson hit the crossbar for the Senators in the third period, Hutchinson made a nice stop on Chris Tierney, but could do nothing on Batherson’s bank shot at 11:11.

Tavares, who like Nylander has taken heat in recent days, rounded out the scoring at 16:53 with his sixth of the campaign, and second at even strength.

The last-place Senators hit two more posts late, but wouldn’t get any closer.

Toronto now heads to Montreal to take on the well-rested Canadiens, who haven’t played since downing the Leafs 2-1 last weekend at Scotiabank Arena. Ottawa hosts Montreal both Sunday and Tuesday to open a five-game homestand.

Matthews scores two more as part of four-point night as Leafs thump Sens

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