Auston Matthews lifts Maple Leafs over Ducks in shootout

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Auston Matthews scored the shootout winner and the Toronto Maple Leafs got three power-play goals Wednesday night in a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares all scored with the man advantage to give Toronto a two-goal lead in a mostly empty Scotiabank Arena because of COVID-19 restrictions.

But a late goal in the second period by Jakob Silfverberg and another from Ducks forward Vinni Lettieri when he redirected Kevin Shattenkirk’s point drive with 6:37 remaining in the third sent the game to overtime.

Sam Steel also was credited with a fluky goal for the Ducks, and John Gibson made 41 saves. Anaheim played without head coach Dallas Eakins, who was sidelined due to COVID-19. Assistant coach Mike Stothers ran the bench in his absence.

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Anaheim Ducks' Sam Carrick (39) and Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) look for the loose puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Wednesday, Jan 26, 2022. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Jason Spezza also converted in the shootout and Jack Campbell earned his 20th victory as the Maple Leafs (26-10-3) won for the third time in five games. The Ducks (21-16-8) had won two in a row.

The three power-play goals gave the Maple Leafs 34 for the season. Only the Colorado Avalanche (37) and St. Louis Blues (35) had more entering play Wednesday.

With three days off since their last game, a 3-1 road win against the New York Islanders, Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe mixed up his lines against Anaheim.

He wanted more balance from his top three units, so Keefe placed Matthews, Marner and