Mitchell Marner scored on a power-play late in the third period and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Nashville Predators 2-1 Wednesday night.
Marner scored his 16th goal of the season on a deft pass from William Nylander at 18:45 of the third. Mark Jankowski was serving a double-minor for high-sticking.
John Tavares added a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who have won three in a row. Nylander had two assists.
Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators, who had a four-game winning streak end.
Both goaltenders were solid, with Matt Murray stopping 32 shots for Toronto and Juuse Saros making 33 saves for Nashville.
The Maple Leafs were playing without Auston Matthews, who is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Murray stopped Tanner Jeannot on a breakaway and two rebounds at 2:12 of the first period.
Saros stopped Nylander on a breakaway at 8:27 of the first.
Tavares scored his 20th goal of the season at 16:54 of the first with a five-foot backhand shot. Nylander worked the puck to Tavares after taking a short pass from Timothy Liljegren in the neutral zone.
Tavares has five goals in his past four games.
Toronto had a 15-10 advantage in shots on goal after one period.
Forsberg scored his 17th goal of the season from the edge of the crease at 1:46 of the second period following a Toronto turnover. Juuso Parssinen made the pass into the low slot and Forsberg made a nifty move before tucking the puck into the net. Matt Duchene earned the other assist.
Forsberg has eight goals in his past eight games.
The Maple Leafs had a 22-17 edge in shots on goal after the second period.
Nashville went on the power play at 9:21 of the third period but Murray held steady.
Toronto went on a power play when Jankowski was assessed four minutes for high-sticking at 15:38 of the third.
Toronto also was without TJ Brodie (rib).
Bobby McMann made his NHL debut for the Maple Leafs after being promoted from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
–Field Level Media
