Nylander has 3 points, Maple Leafs hold Stars

Toronto pushed it to 5-3 20 seconds later when Nylander scored his second of the game at 11:57, taking a low pass from Tavares and firing past a blocker from the left point.

“It's a very good team on the other end, so I think they kept it up the whole game,” Matthews said. “Momentum swings happen, but I think special teams was a really big play tonight, so it was good to see us execute some of those opportunities and make some big goals at the end to extend the lead. . It was great to get two points at home tonight.”

Wyatt Johnston made it 5-4 at 18:35 with a shot off Samsonov's glove with Wedwood on the bench at the top of the left circle for the extra attacker.

“It's not easy coming off a long layoff, but I think we all know we're ready to win tonight,” Johnston said. “Just the execution, obviously, playing on a team with all the great offensive players they have, you have to be really good in all areas of the ice and not give them too much. It makes it difficult to give up three goals in the penalty shootout.”

Neylander gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 6:34 of the first period when he took a one-time pass from Morgan Rielly from the top of the left circle on the power play.

Jamie Benn tied the game at 1-1 at 14:52 with his one-timer on the power play off a pass from Joe Pavelski to the right of the goal.

At 17:23 of the first period, Dadonov gave the Stars a 2-1 lead when he drove the puck into the offensive zone, cut into the slot and beat Samsonov with a five-hole.

“I think we were a little flat and it took us a little bit to get into the game, but the positive thing is we came back and started playing well in the second and third periods,” Nylander said.

Tavares tied it 2-2 at 3:40 of the second period when he took a one-time pass from Nylander in the slot on the power play.

Matthews scored on the power play at 12:37 to give the Maple Leafs a 3-2 lead. He stole the puck along the sideboards, slid toward the net, and fired a shot past Esa Lindell who was sprawling from the bottom of the left circle. He has 27 goals in his last 27 games and leads the NHL with 41 goals in 48 games.

“We had a good advance scout from the coach and told us what might be open and we competed hard,” Nylander said. “I mean Matthew's goal, the big wall battle, and then getting him to the net, attacking the net and scoring.”

NOTES: Matthews extended his point streak to eight games (eight goals, five assists). … Tavares extended his point-and-goal streak to three games (three goals, three assists). … Star forward Mason Marchment had an assist to extend his point streak to five games (two goals, four assists).