Tavares Nets OT Winner as Maple Leafs Edge Ducks

Toronto captain scores with 5 seconds left in extra period to cap wild 5-4 victory

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:34am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

John Tavares scored the game-winning goal with just 5 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in a physical, high-scoring affair on Monday night. Tavares finished with 2 goals and an assist, while William Nylander added a goal and 3 assists for the Leafs.

Why it matters

The win extends Toronto's winning streak over Anaheim to 7 games and comes on the heels of the sudden firing of Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving earlier in the day, adding an extra layer of drama to the matchup.

The details

Tavares tipped in a feed from Morgan Rielly to complete the comeback for the Leafs, who trailed 3-1 in the third period before rallying to tie it and force overtime. Leo Carlsson scored twice for the Ducks, but Cutter Gauthier and John Carlson also found the back of the net for Anaheim. The game featured a combined 85 penalty minutes, including two 5-minute majors for fighting by Toronto's Max Domi.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 31, 2026.
  • Tavares scored the game-winning goal with just 5 seconds left in overtime.

The players

John Tavares

The captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tavares scored 2 goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and added an assist in the victory.

William Nylander

The Maple Leafs forward tallied 4 points on the night, including the game-tying goal in the third period.

Leo Carlsson

The Anaheim Ducks forward scored twice in the losing effort.

Cutter Gauthier

The Ducks forward scored a goal but left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury after being cross-checked by Toronto's Jake McCabe.

Radko Gudas

The Ducks captain played through an injury, having previously ended the season of Toronto's Auston Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit for which he received a 5-game suspension.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The Maple Leafs will look to build on this overtime victory as they continue their push for a playoff spot, while the Ducks will hope to bounce back from their second straight loss.

The takeaway

This thrilling back-and-forth game highlighted the intense rivalry between these two teams, with physical play and late-game heroics from star players like Tavares and Carlsson. The result also came amidst the sudden front office shakeup in Toronto, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the Maple Leafs' season.