John Tavares scores in OT, Maple Leafs top Golden Knights

John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs gives a stick to a fan after receiving a star of the game and defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 at the Scotiabank Arena, November 7, 2019. /VCG Photo

John Tavares spoiled Malcolm Subban's homecoming.

Tavares beat Subban at 2:33 of overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.

Playing his second game after missing seven with a broken finger, Tavares took a pass from Mitch Marner on a 2-on-1 and scored his fourth goal of the season, beating Subban with a high shot.

''I'm just trying to get available and make the (passing) lane as easy as I can,'' Tavares said. ''Just tried to reward a good play.''

Malcolm Subban #30 of the Las Vegas Golden Knights makes a save on Trevor Moore #42 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the game at the Scotiabank Arena, November 7, 2019. /VCG Photo

Subban made 35 saves in his first NHL start in his hometown.

"It would have been nice to get the win," said Subban, the younger brother of New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban. "But it was great to finally play here."

Auston Matthews also scored and Frederik Andersen made 37 saves to help Toronto win its third straight game. ''By far our best player,'' Matthews said about Andersen. ''He just kept us in it.''

Max Pacioretty opened the scoring for Vegas at 4:08 of the third period on a gift from Toronto defenseman Cody Ceci. Nick Holden's point shot rattled around the slot and fell to Ceci, who tried to clear the puck, but instead swept it right to Pacioretty.

Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck in the game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Scotiabank Arena, November 7. /VCG Photo

Toronto's power play was 0 for 5 and on an ugly 2-for-32 stretch, but got its sixth opportunity of the night a few minutes later and finally made it count when Matthews wheeled off the boards and fired his 13th over Subban's shoulder and off the crossbar at 8:14.

"We pretty much said, 'What do we have to lose? Let's move around, let's get the penalty kill thinking more,'" Matthews said. "We did a really good job of that, different guys going to different areas and just reacting. We came together as a five-man group, outlined a couple things and just went from there."

Toronto's Mike Babcock became the eighth coach in NHL history to reach 700 victories. Vegas' Jonathan Marchessault played his 300th regular-season game.

Other games on Thursday included (home teams in bold):

Florida Panthers 4-5 Washington Capitals

Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 Montreal Canadiens

Carolina Hurricanes 2-4 New York Rangers

New York Islanders 3-4 Pittsburgh Penguins

Ottawa Senators 3-2 Los Angeles Kings

Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 Vancouver Canucks

Colorado Avalanche 9-4 Nashville Predators

Calgary Flames 5-2 New Jersey Devils

Phoenix Coyotes 2-3 Columbus Blue Jackets

San Jose Sharks 6-5 Minnesota Wild

Source(s): AP