BREAKING NEWS: John Tavares Leads Maple Leafs to 3-1 Comeback Victory Over Kings
March 30, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA
In a thrilling late-season showdown with potential playoff implications, Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares delivered a vintage performance, scoring two pivotal third-period goals to lift his team to a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
After trailing 1-0 through two periods, the Maple Leafs rallied in the final frame, sparked by their veteran leader. Tavares, 34, showcased his trademark poise and scoring instinct, notching the game-tying and game-winning goals in the span of just over six minutes, turning the tide in favor of Toronto.
“It’s always great to contribute in big moments,” Tavares said postgame. “We know every point counts right now, and we wanted to come out strong in the third. I’m proud of how we stuck with it.”
The Kings opened the scoring late in the second period on a goal from Kevin Fiala, who capitalized on a defensive breakdown to beat Leafs netminder Joseph Woll with a quick wrister. Despite outshooting the Kings through the first two periods, Toronto struggled to solve goaltender Cam Talbot, who turned away 26 of the first 27 shots he faced.
The breakthrough finally came at 6:44 of the third period, when Tavares buried a rebound in front of the net after a scramble set up by Morgan Rielly’s shot from the point. Energized by the equalizer, the Leafs ramped up the pressure.
With just over seven minutes remaining, Tavares struck again — this time on a slick power-play sequence. Auston Matthews drew a penalty with a strong drive to the net, and on the ensuing man advantage, Mitch Marner threaded a cross-ice pass to Tavares, who one-timed it past Talbot for the go-ahead goal.
The insurance marker came minutes later when Matthews himself added a shorthanded goal, stealing the puck at the blue line and finishing with a slick deke to seal the 3-1 win.
“It’s exactly the kind of effort we need heading into the playoffs,” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Veteran leadership, smart decisions, and special teams making the difference — this was a big win for us.”
The victory improves Toronto’s record to 48-23-6, keeping them neck-and-neck with the Florida Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. With just a handful of games remaining in the regular season, every game is taking on added weight.
Joseph Woll stopped 22 of 23 shots for the Leafs, earning his 20th win of the season and solidifying his status as a reliable option heading into the postseason. On the other side, Talbot made 33 saves for the Kings, who remain in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.
The Maple Leafs will continue their West Coast road trip with a matchup against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. With momentum on their side, Toronto appears poised to make a serious push down the stretch — and if Saturday night was any indication, John Tavares still has plenty of clutch moments left in him.