TORONTO — Matt Boldy scored his second hat trick of the season as the Minnesota Wild beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Thursday, handing Toronto its fifth consecutive regulation loss at home.

According to reporting by Joshua Clipperton of The Canadian Press, published by Global News, Boldy completed the sixth three-goal game of his career early in the third period. A mix-up between Leafs winger William Nylander and defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson off the rush left a clear lane for the Minnesota winger.

The defeat dropped Toronto to 8-11-2 and extended a difficult stretch in which the club has gone 1-7-0 over its last eight games. The Leafs have lost the opening five games of their six-game homestand.

Minnesota, meanwhile, improved to 14-3-4. The Wild are 8-0-2 over their past 10 games and have not lost in regulation since facing the Calgary Flames on Oct. 22.

Boldy’s second goal came on a power play after Toronto defenceman Darren Raddysh took a penalty midway through the second period. That goal tied the game 2-2.

Quinn Hughes assisted on the equalizer, extending his point streak to at least 10 games for the third time in his career. That tied Phil Housley for the second-most such streaks by an American defenceman in NHL history, behind Brian Leetch’s four.

Michael McCarron also scored for Minnesota, while Danila Yurov added an empty-net goal and an assist. Kirill Kaprizov contributed three assists, and Jesper Wallstedt made 26 saves.

Toronto played without veteran defenceman Chris Tanev, who was held out for load management for the second time in three games. Morgan Rielly remained sidelined with a lower-body injury.

For Minnesota, defenceman Brock Faber could return this weekend after suffering a fractured skull during pre-season play, The Canadian Press reported.

The Maple Leafs finish their homestand Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Sources