Monday in the NHL | Auston Matthews scores a hat trick in Leafs 6-2 win

Auston Matthews scored a hat trick on Monday to help the Toronto Maple Leafs win 6-2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Matthews finished the game with 54 goals, tying the Leafs record for most goals in a season. Rick Vaive scored as many in 1981-82.

Matthews has scored in his last six games; he got at least one point in 13 straight games. He has seven career hat-tricks, including four this season.

The 24-year-old American was also an accomplice to Mitchell Marner’s goal midway through the third period. Marner provided a goal and two assists; he has 22 points in his last 10 games.

Toronto sits second in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the Lightning.

Pierre Engvall and Alexander Kerfoot were the other Leafs scorers, while Jack Campbell made 32 saves. Nikita Kucherov and Jan Rutta scored for the Lightning, while Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots.

Author of two assists, Steven Stamkos increased his harvest to 11 points in seven games. Kucherov has two goals and 10 points in five games.

The Maple Leafs will play again on Tuesday at Sunrise. The Lightning will be back in action on Wednesday in Washington.

Mark Diddler, Associated Press

Bruins beat Blue Jackets in overtime

Jake DeBrusk scored his second goal of the game just 63 seconds into overtime as the Boston Bruins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Monday night.

Defenseman Zach Werenski hit the target late in the second period to allow the Blue Jackets to tie the score. After a scoreless third period, DeBruski thwarted the vigilance of Elvis Merzlikins following a Blue Jackets turnover.

For DeBrusk, it’s the fifth straight game with at least one goal. Craig Smith completed and goaltender Linus Ullmark saved 20 pucks in a penalty-heavy game.

The Bruins (44-20-5) took the opportunity to climb to third place in the Atlantic Division. They have won their last three outings, and 10 of their last 12.

For their part, the Blue Jackets are going in the opposite direction following this seventh consecutive loss.

Emil Bemstrom had the Blue Jackets’ other goal and Merzlikins made 34 saves.

Bemstrom opened the scoring at 4:31 of the first period but late in the first period, Brad Marchand served a hard check to Andrew Peeke in the bay window, in Blue Jackets territory.

With Peeke sprawled out on the ice and no penalty called, DeBrusk slipped away and found the back of the net.

The Blue Jackets players expressed their displeasure and Jakub Voracek received a 10-minute misconduct for verbally attacking the officials.

Marchand and Peeke were involved in a second-period skirmish and both players were given minors for roughing. Peeke was punished again, in the third period, for tripping Marchand.

Smith gave the Bruins the lead in the second period with a wrist shot from the slot.

Werenski, who was making a comeback after missing three games with a concussion, tied the game with 16 seconds left in the period.

It was his 11th goal of the season and his first since March 10.

Mitch Stacy, Associated Press

The Blues have the upper hand over the Coyotes, beating them 5-1

Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Arizona Coyotes 5-1 on Monday.

Pavel Buchnevich added a goal and three points for St. Louis, which has lost only once in five games (a loss in overtime).

Ivan Barbashev and Brayden Schenn also scored for the Blues, while Ville Husso made 21 saves.

The Blues took control with three goals at 4:16 early in the second period.

For the Coyotes, Nick Schmaltz hit the target and Ivan Prosvetov blocked 24 shots.

The team has only two wins in 10 games.

Phil Kessel remains two goals shy of 400, one assist shy of 550 and three career points shy of 950.

Arizona will host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

Joe Harris, Associated Press