William Nylander's outstanding four-point performance propelled the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night, snapping a three-game losing streak for the Leafs. Nylander, who had been experiencing an 11-game goal drought, broke the ice with a breakaway goal in the first period, setting the tone for his dominant night.

The game, which was the Maple Leafs' first Next Gen game of the season and their last before the Christmas break, saw a determined effort from both teams. The opening period was fast-paced, with Nylander's early goal injecting energy into the Scotiabank Arena. However, the Penguins quickly responded, with Bryan Rust scoring a breakaway goal of his own just 44 seconds later to tie the game. Matias Maccelli then put the Leafs back in front before the end of the first, with a shot that deflected off a Penguins defenseman.

In the second period, Steven Lorentz extended Toronto's lead with another breakaway goal, making it 3-1. The Penguins, however, continued to battle, with Rutger McGroarty scoring to reduce the deficit.

The Maple Leafs pulled away in the third, with Max Domi scoring the game-winning goal with 8:25 remaining. Domi's goal, his first in 23 games, came during a four-on-four situation and showcased impressive stickhandling as he danced around Pittsburgh's Brett Kulak. Bobby McMann and Nylander added empty-net goals to seal the 6-3 victory for Toronto.

Joseph Woll recorded 32 saves on 35 shots, earning his sixth win in 11 starts. Meanwhile, Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner, acquired in a recent trade, is still seeking his first win with his new team, having allowed 12 goals in three starts.

The win comes at a crucial time for the Maple Leafs, who have been struggling with consistency. General Manager Brad Treliving had voiced his confidence in head coach Craig Berube earlier in the day, affirming that the team was not looking to sell off key players for a rebuild. The return of defenseman Chris Tanev from an upper-body injury after a 23-game absence also provided a boost to the team.

For the Penguins, the loss underscores their own inconsistencies. Sidney Crosby had recently reached a milestone, passing Mario Lemieux for the most points in Penguins history. However, the team has struggled to maintain a winning streak, with this loss adding to their challenges.