Matthews, Tavares lead Leafs past Flyers 5-2; Tanev stretchered off after collision

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews, left, celebrates his goal with Brandon Carlo (25) and Nicholas Robertson (89) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Austin Matthews scored a goal, John Tavares assisted on two others, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 on Saturday night.

Matthews netted his sixth goal of the season with a snap shot from the left circle at 6:16 of the first period to tie the game at 1-1.

Matthews has at least one point in 12 straight games against Philadelphia dating to December 2019.

Tavares assisted on goals by Nicholas Robertson and Easton Cowan as the Leafs won for the third time in four games.

Cowan’s goal was his first in the NHL. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves to earn the win over the franchise that drafted him. Stolarz was a second-round pick by the Flyers in the 2012 NHL Draft. Jake McCabe and Calle Jarnkrok also scored for Toronto.

Christian Dvorak and Tyson Foerster scored for Philadelphia, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Dan Vladar, who had not allowed more than two goals in any of his first six starts for the Flyers, allowed four goals on 19 shots. He was pulled after Cowan’s goal in the third period and replaced by Aleksei Kolosov.

Toronto defenceman Chris Tanev was injured when he collided with Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov with 11:37 remaining in the game. It was Tanev’s first game back after missing four with a concussion. The contact was shoulder-to-shoulder, but Tanev’s head snapped back upon contact and he stayed face down on the ice.

Trainers attended to him and stabilized his head and neck before lifting him onto a stretcher and wheeling him off the ice. There was no immediate update from the Leafs. Michkov was assessed a minor for interference on the play.

UP NEXT

Maple Leafs: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.

Flyers: Host the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

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Anthony Sanfilippo, The Associated Press