Matthews and Joshua score 8 seconds apart to help Leafs rally past Blackhawks 3-2

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz (18) and Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Wyatt Kaiser (44) vie for control of the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies (23) gets knocked down by Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Wyatt Kaiser (44) as teammate Spencer Knight (30) makes the save during second period NHL hockey action in Toronto, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) — Toronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz (18) and Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Wyatt Kaiser (44) vie for control of the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

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9:14 PM on Tuesday, December 16

The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) — Dakota Joshua batted in a rebound with 3:01 left, just 8 seconds after Auston Matthews tied it, and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied past the Chicago Blackhawks for a 3-2 win on Tuesday night.

Third-period goals by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Matthews and Joshua erased Toronto's two-goal deficit and complete a wild comeback.

Joseph Woll made 23 saves and the Maple Leafs earned just their second victory this season after trailing after two periods.

Wyatt Kaiser and Jason Dickinson, short-handed, staked Chicago to a 2-0 lead in the first period.

Spencer Knight stopped 24 shots in the loss.

The Blackhawks were without third-year center Connor Bedard, who was placed on injured reserve Monday for at least two weeks because of an upper-body injury. Bedard has a team-high 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games.

Without Bedard, Chicago focused on the basics of the game, breaking up Toronto’s passes, getting bodies in front of Woll, and shooting through traffic. Teuvo Teravainen had a goal disallowed with 8:33 left in the first after a video replay ruled there was goaltender interference.

Up next

Blackhawks: Visit Montreal on Thursday.

Maple Leafs: Start a three-game road trip at Washington on Thursday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL