A spectacular New Year's Day performance from Auston Matthews has inched the Toronto Maple Leafs captain closer to a legendary franchise milestone while delivering a stunning victory. Matthews netted a hat trick, including the decisive goal with 3:22 remaining, to propel the Leafs to a 6-5 comeback win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Historic Performance in Dramatic Fashion
The final goal of Matthews' trio was the game-winner, capping a remarkable rally from a 4-1 second-period deficit. The victory brings Matthews to 419 career goals, placing him just one shy of Mats Sundin's all-time Maple Leafs record of 420. The historic marker could be tied or broken as soon as the team's next game on Saturday against the New York Islanders.
This marked the 14th regular-season hat trick of Matthews' illustrious career. The win was crucial for Toronto, keeping them firmly in the hunt within an increasingly tight Eastern Conference race as the calendar turned to the new year.
A Spirited Rally After a Rocky Start
Despite entering the game on a four-game point streak, the Leafs stumbled out of the gate against the struggling Jets. The game took a dire turn in the second period when Winnipeg built a commanding 4-1 lead. The Jets' offensive surge prompted Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe to make a critical goaltending change, pulling starter Joseph Woll after he allowed four goals on 18 shots.
Relief goaltender Dennis Hildeby entered the game and provided the stability Toronto desperately needed. Hildeby, who has been called upon from the bench several times this season, made nine key saves. His most notable stop came on a Winnipeg 2-on-1 opportunity, thwarting Tanner Pearson and helping to stem the tide.
Key Moments in the Comeback
The Leafs' climb back began late in the second period. Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson found the net to make it 4-2. Then, with just two seconds left on the clock in the middle frame, Matthews capitalized on a power play to cut the deficit to 4-3, swinging crucial momentum toward the home side.
Matias Maccelli tied the game 4-4 in the third period, but the Jets briefly retook the lead on a Mark Scheifele power-play goal. The Leafs responded once more, with defenceman Troy Stecher scoring to knot the game at 5-5 with under seven minutes to play.
The stage was then set for Matthews' heroics. With 3:22 remaining, a miscommunication between Jets goaltender Eric Comrie and a defenceman behind the net left the puck unattended in front of an open cage. Matthews pounced, collecting the loose puck and sliding a backhand into the yawning net to complete his hat trick and seal the 6-5 victory.
Matthews, who missed the previous game with a leg injury sustained from blocking a shot, acknowledged managing the discomfort. "It was worrisome at the time, because you never know (the severity)," Matthews said post-game. "But we're playing almost every day (in January), so it's one of those things I just have to manage."
The win kicks off a grueling January schedule for the Leafs, who face 16 games before the NHL's Olympic break in early February. The team will look to carry this resilient momentum forward as they navigate a packed slate that includes a Western Canadian road trip to close out the month.
