Bobby McMann recorded his first NHL hat trick in a short-handed Toronto Maple Leafs win over the St. Louis Blues.

TORONTO — Bobby McMann recorded his first career NHL hat trick as the shorthanded Toronto Maple Leafs beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1 on Tuesday.

William Nylander scored another goal for Toronto (27-16-8). Ilya Samsonov made 14 saves.

Shortly before kickoff, the NHL's Division of Player Safety announced a five-game suspension for Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly for head-checking Ridley Greig 5 seconds into the Senators' empty-net goal by the Ottawa center. -3 Saturday wins.

Already without their No. 1 blueliner, the Leafs hit the ice at Scotiabank Arena without star forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares, who sat out just prior to warming up due to illness.

Alexei Toropchenko responded for St. Louis (28-22-2), which went 7-1-0 in its last eight games, including Sunday's 7-2 demolition of the Montreal Canadiens.

Jordan Binnington stopped 28 shots in the loss.

Toronto – 14-2-1 without Rielly in 2023-24 – scored his third goal of the season after McMann fought off Blues captain Brayden Schenn before heading into Binnington's crease at 5:33 of the first period. .

With Rielly, Marner and Tavares down about $30 million in salary, the Leafs doubled their lead at 16:25 when Nylander's pass bounced off the stick of St. Louis rookie Matthew Kessel and past a helpless Binnington at the winger's 26. .

The Blues got the first chance of the game early in the second, but Toronto winger Noah Gregor had the best chance when the St. Louis goalie turned away with his blocker.

The guests reduced the score to 2:1 at 5:36, Toropchenko scored for the ninth time. Kessel picked up the second assist for the blueliner's first NHL point in his 19th game.

Leafs winger Tyler Bertuzzi, who was scoreless in 17 contests entering the game, hit the post minutes after a first-period stoppage.

With Marner and Tavares ailing Toronto on the top man advantage, Bertuzzi fed Max Domi hard on the Leafs' first chance, but Binnington was there to make the save.

Bertuzzi then missed the slot on a power play in the third period, but McMann scored his second goal of the night and fourth overall to double his career total — collecting a loose puck with 8:02 left and a lofted shot. A night where the Leafs need depth players.

The 27-year-old winger, playing in his 37th NHL game, completed his hat trick with 1:39 left in regulation when a defensive zone clearance attempt found the Blues' empty net on the other end. make any curler smile.

CONNECT

Blues head coach Drew Bannister followed Leafs teammate Sheldon Keefe behind the bench in the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2015 after being leased by the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

CAMP, GIORDANO RETURN

Leafs center David Kampf and defenseman Mark Giordano are back in the lineup after recovering from undisclosed injuries. Kampf missed three games last week and Giordano took the loss on Saturday.

In addition to the absences of Marner and Tavares, Keefe announced before the game that blueliner Conor Timmins (mononucleosis) will be out indefinitely. Toronto goalkeeper Martin Jones is out with an undisclosed injury.

Marylees netminder Dennis Hildeby and striker Alex Steeves have both been called up urgently.

NEXT UP

Leafs: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.

Blues: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 13, 2024.

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