Nick Robertson capped an emotional stretch with a moment he is dreamed of for a very long time.
The 21-year-old scored his second aim of the night time in his season debut at 3:46 of overtime Thursday because the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2.
After breaking apart a play on the different finish of the rink, Robertson took a move from Auston Matthews on a 3-on-1 rush and fired past Scott Wedgewood to cap the winger’s finest efficiency as a professional.
The 53rd choose on the 2019 draft suited up for the primary time in 2022-23 after getting despatched to the minors regardless of a robust coaching camp due to wage cap issues.
But after goaltender Matt Murray was positioned on long-tern injured reserve, the door swung open for the Leafs to recall Robertson.
WATCH | Robertson strikes twice in season debut, together with OT winner:
Maple Leafs ahead Nick Robertson scored twice together with the winner in overtime to present Toronto a 3-2 win over Dallas Stars.
“It’s been ups and down,” he stated of the previous couple of weeks. “To get despatched down given cap house was positively powerful to understand … that was powerful.
“But now to get an evening like this, it sort of makes up for it.”
Apart from singing Robertson’s reward, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe credited Matthews on the winner. No one inside Scotiabank Arena would have batted an eye fixed if final season’s 60-goal man had shot it himself.
“You’ve acquired the Rocket Richard Trophy winner down the pipe, and he makes the best play,” Keefe stated. “He will get all the eye of the goalie and strikes it over for Nick to complete it.
“A terrific moment.”
Samsonov stays undefeated
Alexander Kerfoot had the opposite aim for Toronto (3-2-0), whereas Ilya Samsonov stopped 26 photographs.
“Unbelievable … first sport in a season and two terrific aim,” the Leafs netminder, who improved to 3-0-0, stated of Robertson.
“He’s a great shooter. Sometimes it hurts.”
Michael Bunting added two assists for the Leafs, who acquired the win regardless of going 1-for-8 on the facility play.
“That crew would not quit a lot,” Kerfoot stated. “Our particular groups weren’t nice. But we discovered a approach.”
Tyler Seguin and Luke Glendening replied for Dallas (3-0-1), which acquired 40 saves from Wedgewood in his first motion of the season.
“They’ve acquired some ability guys,” Stars head coach Peter DeBoer stated. “When they have the puck they’re laborious to defend.
“An excellent street level.”
The Leafs had been coming off a dismal 4-2 loss to Arizona — the NHL’s Thirty first-ranked crew final season — on Monday that resulted in Keefe delivering a robust public message for the second time in 4 video games to start out the schedule after additionally blasting Toronto on the heels of a 4-3 loss to Montreal, which completed thirty second total in 2021-22.
The Stars, in the meantime, entered having outscored their opponents 13-3 by way of their first three contests.
‘Dynamic’ Robertson
Tied 1-1 by way of two intervals, Toronto nudged in entrance 1:59 into the third interval when Robertson made a pleasant play alongside the boards earlier than ultimately beating Wedgewood.
“He’s dynamic offensively,” Kerfoot stated. “He confirmed that tonight.”
Dallas acquired again even at 7:21 on an influence play when Seguin fired from in shut after Kerfoot went to the field for delay of sport.
It marked the second time in as many outings the Leafs have been on the unsuitable finish of a assessment. Kerfoot had a possible late tying aim negated Monday towards Arizona due to a hand move by Toronto defenceman Morgan Rielly.
“I do not know the principles anymore,” stated Marner, who was additionally in the center of the assessment controversy three nights earlier. “It’s difficult.”
Dallas opened the scoring at 14:45 of a tentative first when Glendening banged a rebound past Samsonov.
Wedgewood, who acquired the decision with Dallas giving Jake Oettinger the night time off, did not have a ton to do on the different finish till Toronto broke by way of on the facility play when Kerfoot scored at 2:31 of the center interval.
Robertson would seize the headlines from there.
“I need to be constant,” he stated. “I need to play properly and assist the crew.
“I do not need to simply have an evening.”