TORONTO (AP)
Staal scored yet another goal against Toronto, lifting the
Staal has 47 points in 43 career games against Toronto, and three of his six goals this season have come against the Leafs.
''It was a team I grew up watching,'' the 32-year-old center said. ''So I always have a little spot in my heart for the Leafs because of growing up with Hockey Night in Canada there in Thunder Bay and people there are Leafs fans, that's who they watch and I was no different as a kid. ''
Ben Smith and
Toronto entered the third period down a goal and pushed hard but couldn't get the equalizer because of goalie
Dubnyk leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.65), save percentage (.946) and shutouts (four).
''He seems to go down in that butterfly and post to post is covered, he does a great job fighting traffic and tonight he made a few timely saves,'' Toronto's
Minnesota opened the scoring 8:42 into the first period after forcing a turnover from Kadri behind his own net.
Andersen was later forced to make a fine pad save on Granlund from the slot, but then Stewart made it 2-0 when he was sprung in alone on a breakaway off a long pass from
It was Stewart's first goal at Air Canada Centre - he grew up in Toronto and had family in the crowd watching.
''I've been thinking about that one my whole life,'' Stewart said. ''It's good to get it off the bucket list.''
Smith got one back for Toronto with 3:10 to go in the period. Kadri crossed Minnesota's blue line and put a shot on net that Dubnyk kicked out to the slot, where Smith was waiting to push it in for a 2-1 game.
Staal regained the two-goal lead for the Wild just 1:15 into the second period, putting a backhand shot past Andersen after taking a pass from behind the net from
It took Toronto over five minutes to register its first shot on net in the second.
Bozak scored with an individual effort to make it 3-2 at 10:54. Bozak stole the puck in Minnesota's end, skated by
Linesman Steve Miller was hit in the left knee by a slap shot from
Toronto had one final opportunity to even the score late when
NOTES: Dubnyk was making the 300th career start. He entered with the best save percentage in the league at .946. ...
UP NEXT
Wild: Return home to host the Oilers on Friday night.
Maple Leafs: Play at Boston on Saturday night.
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