NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs at Nashville Predators

· National Hockey League
Final
3 - 5

Luke Evangelista breaks 3rd-period tie in Predators' 5-3 victory over the Maple Leafs

Cole Smith nets goal for Predators

Evangelista drove down the right side and made a move on defenseman Morgan Rielly at the right dot before lifting a backhander over goalie Joseph Woll.

Erik Haula, Adam Wilsby, Steven Stamkos and Cole Smith also scored, and Juuse Saros made 19 saves. The Predators have won two of three.

Bobby McMann had a goal and an assist for Toronto. Nicolas Roy and John Tavares also scored, and Woll made 29 saves. The Maple Leafs have lost four of five.

Roy opened the scoring at 1:32 of the first period in his 400th career NHL game. Roy tipped McMann’s pass just underneath the crossbar on Toronto’s first shot of the game.

Haula tied it at 4:56 of the second, tipping Roman Josi’s shot from the blue line past Woll on a power play. Nashville has scored a power-play goal in six of seven. Toronto had not allowed a man-advantage goal against in its last five.

Tavares made it 2-1 with 8:03 left in the second when Matias Maccelli’s shot from the high slot hit his skate. Wilsby tied it with 34 seconds left in the period with the teams skating 4-on-4.

Stamkos added an empty-net goal with 1:34 remaining. McMann scored with Woll pulled for an extra attacker with under a minute remaining to draw Toronto within one, and Smith added another empty-netter.

Up next Maple Leafs: At Dallas on Sunday night.

Predators: Host the New York Rangers on Sunday night.

Regular Season Series

Series tied 1-1

Scoring Summary

Goal 1st Period 1:32 Nicolas Roy Goal (3) Tip-In, assists: Bobby McMann (7), Nicholas Robertson (7)
Goal 2nd Period 4:56 Erik Haula Goal (5) Tip-In, assists: Roman Josi (13), Steven Stamkos (6)
Goal 2nd Period 11:57 John Tavares Goal (14) Deflected, assists: Matias Maccelli (6), Jake McCabe (12)
Goal 2nd Period 19:26 Adam Wilsby Goal (1) Wrist Shot, assists: Ryan O'Reilly (18)
Goal 3rd Period 9:18 Luke Evangelista Goal (5) Backhand, assists: Brady Skjei (10)
Goal 3rd Period 18:25 Steven Stamkos Goal (13) Wrist Shot, assists: Filip Forsberg (12)
Goal 3rd Period 19:06 Bobby McMann Goal (9) Wrist Shot, assists: Nicholas Robertson (8), Easton Cowan (7)
Goal 3rd Period 19:51 Cole Smith Goal (4) Snap Shot, assists: Brady Skjei (11), Michael McCarron (5)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/tor.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originTOR https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/nsh.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originNSH
23 Blocked Shots 12
21 Hits 20
2 Takeaways 4
22 Shots 34
0 Power Play Goals 1
1 Power Play Opportunities 2
0.0 Power Play Percentage 50.0
0 Short Handed Goals 0
0 Shootout Goals 0
28 Faceoffs Won 17
62.2 Faceoff Win Percent 37.8
20 Giveaways 13
3 Total Penalties 2
6 Penalty Minutes 4
Nashville Predators Nashville Predators Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Adam Wilsby, D Day-To-Day Jan 17
Jonathan Marchessault, RW Injured Reserve Jan 13
Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
William Nylander, RW Out Jan 16
Simon Benoit, D Day-To-Day Jan 16
Dakota Mermis, D Injured Reserve Jan 12
Anthony Stolarz, G Injured Reserve Jan 10
Chris Tanev, D Injured Reserve Dec 31

Game Information

Bridgestone Arena

Location: Nashville, TN
Attendance: 17,159 | Capacity:

2025-26 Atlantic Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Tampa Bay 29 13 62 4
Detroit 29 16 62 4
Montreal 26 15 59 7
Buffalo 26 16 56 4
Boston 27 19 56 2
Toronto 23 16 54 8
Florida 24 19 51 3
Ottawa 22 19 49 5

2025-26 Central Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Colorado 33 5 74 8
Dallas 27 12 63 9
Minnesota 26 13 61 9
Utah 24 20 52 4
Nashville 23 20 50 4
St. Louis 19 21 46 8
Chicago 19 21 45 7
Winnipeg 19 22 43 5
Full Standings