Alright, so here’s how this wild one really went down, and why the Leaf’s comeback wasn’t just about Matthews, but also about Dennis Hildeby completely changing the tone of the game to start the new year.
First Period
The Jets come out full force. Perfetti scores on a rebound, Connor gets one that goes in off Matthews, Vilardi adds a power‑play goal, and then Scheifele walks in on a breakaway to make it 4–1. At that point, Toronto looks rattled, and honestly lucky it wasn’t worse.
And Joseph Woll? Tough night. Nothing was clean, nothing was controlled. After that fourth goal, the Leafs’ make the switch, and in comes Hildeby.
And that’s when everything flips.
Second Period
Hildeby steps in cold and immediately shuts the door. He turns aside two huge rebound chances, and suddenly the Jets aren’t getting second looks anymore. You could feel the whole team settle down behind him.
Then the Leafs start climbing back.
Maccelli gets Toronto on the board with a simple slot shot. Matthews rips one to make it 4–2. Ekman‑Larsson blasts a point shot to make it 4–3. Even when Winnipeg pushes back to make it 5–3, the Leafs don’t slow down, Matthews answers again to make it 5–4, now we’re cooking with gas!
Third Period
Early in the third, Ekman‑Larsson jumps in again and ties it 5–5. And through all of this, Hildeby is rock‑solid. Calm, composed, not giving any rebounds, giving the Leafs’ the confidence they didn’t have in the first period.
Then the moment everyone will remember: Winnipeg coughs up the puck behind their own net, Matthews pounces, and buries the hat trick goal to make it 6–5.
But Hildeby still wasn’t done.
In the dying seconds, the Jets throw everything at the net, and Hildeby stones them at the buzzer with a massive final save to secure the comeback win!
So yes, Matthews stole the spotlight, but Hildeby absolutely saved the night. Without him shutting down those rebound chances and slamming the door.
Watch the highlights for yourself here!
