Tavares scores 2 power-play goals to lift Maple Leafs against Jets

John Tavares liked how the Toronto Maple Leafs backed each other up and kept their composure in a physical 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.

« Obviously, it talks a lot about [Rielly’s] character. Not surprising,” Tavares said. “He went forward for our group.

« And then after that we stayed cool and calm because the temperature of the game really increased there. Scrums were a frequent occurrence, but we were there to defend each other and protect our net. »

Tavares scored two power-play goals, one in the first period and one late in the second, which made it 3-1.

WATCH | Tavares leads the Leafs power play:

Auston Matthews provided three assists and David Kampf and Michael Bunting also had goals for the Leafs, who were beginning a five-game NHL road trip.

« At the time, it didn’t look clean, so that was it, » Rielly said of why he got into a fight with Morrissey.

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe ignored Rielly’s reaction.

« You know, our sport asks for different things at different times, and sometimes you need players to step out of character a bit, » Keefe said.

Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for the Jets (2-3-0) in front of a sold-out crowd of 15,325 fans at the Canada Life Centre, many dressed in Leafs jerseys. This was the first sold-out sale in Winnipeg since March 9, 2020.

Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots for Winnipeg.

« You could hear it even before the national anthem tonight, you know, the battle of the Leafs and Jets chants, » Morrissey said. « It’s always a fun atmosphere. I think that intensity only increases the intensity of the game. »

Bowness makes his debut

New Jets head coach Rick Bowness recorded a loss on his season debut behind the bench. He missed the team’s first four games after testing positive for COVID-19.

« The difference in the game was clearly the specialist teams, » Bowness said. « We hit a few goal posts. And theirs went in. »

The Leafs were 2 for 3 on the power play and the Jets were 0 for 3.

Dubois put Winnipeg first on the scoreboard when he received a cross pass from Cole Perfetti, fired a shot, then headed to the net and scored his own rebound at 4:17 of the first period .

The Leafs had a power play with three minutes left in the period, which was marked by a hit on Mitch Marner.

Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo checked Marner from behind in the corner boards and he hit his head. He got up slowly and walked over to the Toronto bench. He didn’t play the rest of the period, but returned for the second.

Kampf’s decisive goal from the slot at 14:34 of the second period was set up by a clever pass from Wayne Simmonds, who sent the puck between his legs to Kampf.

Simmonds and Kyle Clifford, who picked up an assist for handing the puck to Simmonds, were making their Leafs season debuts on the fourth line with Kampf.

« I just got [the puck] and I tried to throw it as fast as I could and Kampfer landed a great shot, » Simmonds said.

The second period ended with a few fights, including one that led to another Toronto power play and Tavares’ second goal, a tip from a Matthews shot with 1:05 left.

Bunting finished the scoring with a backhand shot into an empty net with 2:37 left.