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Stefan Tonev
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Maple Leafs down Jets, Matthews scores twice
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Toronto goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 37 saves

Lively Auston Matthews had two goals early in the second period and Ilya Samsonov made 37 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Winnipeg Jets, who entered as the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, 4-1 on Thursday night.

“Sammy was dialed in,” Matthews said. “It’s a big win for us, but the game could have definitely been a lot closer had it not been for him.”

“Probably the game that’s looked closest to him last year in terms of being dangerous, in terms of the way the puck went in the net,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said about Matthews.

“He could have had four or five tonight.”

Mitch Marner and Mark Giordano, into the empty net, also scored for Toronto, and Michael Bunting added two assists.

Kyle Connor scored for Winnipeg, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 23 shots.

“Played really well,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said. “The mistakes we made with their best players on the ice were glaring.

“To me, we gave them the first three goals. You give those guys — Matthews and Marner — those chances, they’re going to score.”

Toronto visit Montreal Canadiens on Saturday while the Jets are at Ottawa Senators on the same day.