TORONTO — Auston Matthews could sense his line was getting close.
Joe Thornton had a goal waved off late in Wednesday's first period before another early in the second was also called back.
Moments later, Matthews made sure Toronto's third shot to cross the line counted.
The star centre blasted home his NHL-best 14th goal of the season, Alexander Kerfoot scored the winner, and the Maple Leafs rebounded from an embarrassing collapse 48 hours earlier against Ottawa, grinding out a 2-1 victory over the last-place Senators.
Thornton's first effort was denied after it was ruled he pushed the puck and Matt Murray's pad into the net, while the other was cancelled out for a high stick.