3 Takeaways from Maple Leafs’ 6–5 Win Over the Jets

Some games feel like a clean notebook. This wasn’t one of those. This one had scribbles in the margins, coffee stains on the page, and a few crossed-out lines in frustration. Still, when it was over, the Toronto Maple Leafs had two points in their pocket and a building that felt alive again.

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Down 4–1 early in the second period, this looked like one of those nights where you tip your cap to the effort later and quietly move on. Instead, the Maple Leafs clawed their way back, leaned on their stars, got a huge lift from an unlikely place, and somehow turned chaos into a 6–5 win over a Winnipeg Jets team that looks like it’s searching for answers.

Takeaway 1: Auston Matthews Took Over the Game

This was one of those Matthews nights where you stop counting shots and start noticing moments. Three goals, an assist, and a sense that whenever the Maple Leafs needed oxygen, he was the one providing it.

The hat trick was his 14th, pushing him right up against some serious franchise history, but it wasn’t just about numbers. Matthews was direct. He was around the net all night. The power-play goal late in the second — with just seconds left — changed the feel of the entire game. Instead of heading to the room frustrated, the Maple Leafs walked off believing.

Captains do that.

Takeaway 2: Dennis Hildeby Changed the Game

Craig Berube said after the game that he doesn’t love pulling goalies, and you could tell this wasn’t about blame. It was about changing the temperature. Dennis Hildeby came in cold, down three goals, and gave the Maple Leafs a chance.

He didn’t scramble or panic. He used his size, positioning, and timely saves—especially early—to let the bench breathe again. The final blocker save on Mark Scheifele with five seconds left? That’s a moment that sticks in a room. By that time, he looked completely in control.

Backup goalies don’t always get remembered. Relief appearances usually fade. This one won’t.

Takeaway 3: Maple Leafs’ Contributions Beyond the Headliners

Matthews headlined it all. But Matias Maccelli, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Troy Stecher all found ways to matter. Maccelli’s tying goal came off a beautiful no-look pass from Matthew Knies. Stecher’s goal was pure timing and willingness to jump into the play.

This wasn’t a one-line win. It was a reminder that when the Maple Leafs are at their best, the damage comes from everywhere.

The Bottom Line: The Maple Leafs Grab Two Points, and the Lessons Come for Free

This was a gutsy Maple Leafs win. It’s the kind that builds belief, especially after the break. Matthews was brilliant. Hildeby was a revelation. And the Maple Leafs showed they can stay in a game even when it’s going sideways.

But the tape will show plenty to clean up. And that’s fine. January wins don’t need to be perfect — they need to count two points. This one did.

Related: Hildebeast Rises Up to Save the Maple Leafs