The Leafs (16-7-2) were made to work hard at home to the Predators (7-13-6) on Wednesday, with Jonathan Marchessault putting the guests up by a goal about five-and-a-half minutes into the game. It would remain that way until the third period, where the Torontonians found their scoring abilities again.
A pair of Auston Matthew goals within the first two-and-a-half minutes of the third put the home team in front, with William Nylander scoring what proved to be the winning goal at the 14:54 mark via a power play.
Mitchell Marner assisted on all three of the Leafs' goals, putting him up to 27 assists on the year, just three back of the leader Nathan MacKinnon. Mark Jankowski got his first goal of the year to make things interesting for the final 4:32, but that was the closest Nashville would get.
The Predators slumped to a fifth straight loss, with the three before Wednesday coming in either overtime or in a shootout. For Toronto, the win was their third in a row and seventh from their last eight.
Marchand double leads Bruins past Blackhawks
Out in Illinois, The visiting Boston Bruins improved to 14-11-3 with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks (8-16-2). It was the hosts who went in front within 90 seconds through Alex Vlasic, who got his first goal of the year. The lead would last until the 7:43 mark of the first, where Morgan Geekie levelled things up.
Brad Marchand then took things over in the second period, as his two goals, which came 3:05 apart, turning the tide in Boston's favour. With 1:37 to go in the period, however, Jason Dickinson got the Hawks back into the game. That was the furthest they would get, as Geekie would get his second five minutes into the third period to seal the win.
The struggles continue for Chicago, who have now lost their last four games, conceding 17 times in that run. They still sit dead last in the NHL with the least number of points won (18). The Bruins' win allowed them to consolidate third spot in the Atlantic Division, having now won a third game in a row.