TORONTO (Interstat) — Auston Matthews scored with 14 seconds left in overtime and added three assists in regulation as the Toronto Maple Leafs erased a three-goal deficit and defeated the Nashville Predators 5-4 on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. Matthews, Toronto’s top star, finished with one goal, three assists, four shots on goal and one hit. Anthony Stolarz made 21 saves for the Maple Leafs, who won at home after trailing 3-0 in the second period. The announced attendance was 18,792. Nashville dropped to 1-2-0, while Toronto improved to 2-2-0.

Nashville controlled the early pace. Steven Stamkos opened the scoring 7:13 into the first period with a wrist shot, assisted by Matthew Wood and Roman Josi. Nils Hoglander doubled the lead at 9:08 of the opening period with a backhand, with Adam Wilsby and Filip Forsberg earning assists. Toronto generated chances late in the first, including a John Tavares slap shot saved by Juuse Saros and an Auston Matthews tip-in that went wide left. Colton Sissons also forced Saros into a save, and Easton Cowan put a wrist shot on net. Morgan Rielly took a tripping penalty for Toronto, and Jonathan Marchessault was called for tripping for Nashville. The Predators carried a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Nashville pushed its advantage to three goals early in the second when Hoglander scored his second of the game at 6:03, assisted by Forsberg and Mavrik Bourque. Toronto began its comeback shortly after. John Tavares put the Maple Leafs on the board at 8:56 of the second, assisted by Gavin McKenna and Stolarz. Jack Drury received a hooking penalty for Nashville, and Toronto’s power play generated pressure. William Nylander cut the deficit to 3-2 at 12:58 of the second, scoring a wrist shot with assists from Matthews and Kirill Marchenko. Nashville answered when Stamkos netted his second goal at 26:30 of the second, with Ryan O’Reilly and Brady Skjei assisting. Toronto responded again before the period ended when McKenna, the overall pick, scored his first professional goal at 28:31, assisted by Matthews and Jack Roslovic, trimming Nashville’s lead to 4-3. Ross Colton’s cross-checking penalty against Jake McCabe gave Toronto another late power play, but Nashville survived the period.

The third period became a test of Toronto’s persistence. Stolarz held firm in the Toronto net, while Saros turned aside several Maple Leafs chances, including attempts from Tavares, Nylander, McKenna and Roslovic. Toronto continued to press and finally pulled even when Roslovic scored at 24:54 of the third period, assisted by Matthews and Nylander. The goal completed Toronto’s rally from a multi-goal deficit and forced overtime. The Maple Leafs kept pressing after the tying goal, with Stolarz stopping Adam Wilsby and Jack Drury, and Saros denying Jack Roslovic again. Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly won key faceoffs, and Filip Forsberg used takeaways to help the Predators counter. Both teams traded scoring chances in the extra period, with Stolarz stopping Steven Stamkos early and Saros denying Easton Cowan and Morgan Rielly.

In overtime, Toronto found the decisive moment with time running down. Nylander moved the puck to Matthews, who scored a wrist shot with 14 seconds remaining to give the Maple Leafs the 5-4 win. Matthews finished as the game’s top star, adding three assists in regulation to his overtime goal. Nylander had one goal and two assists, Tavares scored once and recorded six shots on goal, Roslovic had one goal and one assist, and McKenna finished with one goal and one assist in his professional debut. For Nashville, Stamkos scored twice and recorded three shots on goal and one hit. Hoglander also scored twice. Forsberg contributed two assists, while Bourque added one assist. Stolarz earned the win with 21 saves on 25 shots.

Toronto’s comeback overshadowed a strong start for Nashville, which built its lead through quick strikes and pressure around the net. The Predators received assists from Josi, Wood, Wilsby, Forsberg, Bourque, O’Reilly and Skjei across their four goals. Nashville’s penalty kill faced pressure after Marchessault’s tripping call and Drury’s hooking call, while Colton’s cross-checking penalty late in the second added another shorthanded situation. Toronto’s defense tightened as the game progressed, limiting Nashville’s chances after the Predators took their 4-2 lead. Matthews’ line with Nylander and Roslovic created repeated chances in the final period, and McKenna’s first professional goal gave the Maple Leafs momentum they carried into the third. The Maple Leafs finished with the extra-period winner after both teams had traded momentum through a wide-open first two periods.

Both goaltenders were tested in a fast-paced game. Stolarz finished with 21 saves on 25 shots, while Saros made a series of stops for Nashville, including saves on Matthews, Tavares, Nylander and McKenna. Toronto’s penalty kill handled Nashville’s chances after Rielly’s tripping call, and Nashville’s penalty kill survived Drury’s hooking penalty and Colton’s cross-checking penalty. The Predators blocked several Toronto attempts, with Josi, Hague and Tanev among those getting in shooting lanes. The Maple Leafs also blocked shots from Josi and Marchenko, and Matthews recorded a hit in addition to his four shots on goal. Forsberg had two assists and two shots on goal for Nashville, while Bourque added an assist and one shot.

Nashville entered the game having split its first two contests, beating Dallas and falling to Minnesota. Toronto had beaten the New York Islanders but lost to Montreal and Ottawa. The Maple Leafs’ overtime win gave them a second victory of the young season and handed Nashville its second loss. The Maple Leafs’ home crowd of 18,792 saw a game that featured four goals in the second period, a tying goal in the third and a dramatic finish in overtime.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Toronto 3, Nashville 2. Toronto had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 9 went under the over/under line of 6.