After missing 14 games with a shoulder injury, Auston Matthews returned and picked up right where he left off, scoring two goals and an assist, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks (12-9-5) at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night. The win gave the Leafs the season sweep over the Sharks, whom they defeated by the same score on November 15th.
The Maple Leafs are now 18-8-0, putting them in a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Buffalo Sabres (36 points). This was the Leafs’ third straight win (Outscoring opponents 15-5 in that time) and their sixth consecutive win at home (Outscoring opponents 28-9 during that streak).