TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are on a bit of a roll, but coach Mike Babcock said his team could have done better Saturday.

Sure, they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 for their third victory in a row, but a lot of it had to do with the 43 saves made by goaltender James Reimer.

"He played good, he made some saves on point-blank shots," Babcock said. "I think we have to play with more poise than we did in the third period with the lead."

He said his team is still learning how to win, learning how to play as if the game is still tied even when it has the lead. That did not happen Saturday after a strong beginning.

Left winger James van Riemsdyk, right winger Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, center Shawn Matthias and left winger Joffrey Lupul scored for Toronto (5-8-4).

"Reimer's been great," van Riemsdyk said. "He looks really sharp back there, he's making all the big saves we need to have a chance every night to win. He was spectacular again tonight."

"You try to keep your eye on (the puck)," Reimer said. "As far as staying composed and what not, it's just a battling, trying to find the puck and if you see it you've got a good chance. We're playing well."

Right winger Jannik Hansen and left winger Alexandre Burrows scored for the Canucks (7-6-5), who lost their second straight. Goaltender Ryan Miller made 36 saves.

The Maple Leafs took a 3-1 lead at 1:49 of the third period on the second goal of the season by Matthias, who completed a give-and-go with center Tyler Bozak to take advantage of a Canucks turnover.

Hansen put the puck into the Maple Leafs' net off his foot at 4:53 of the third period but after a video review, it was ruled to be no goal because of a kicking motion.

"It's 50-50, they go your way some times and other times they don't," Hansen said. "If that's what they see that's what they see."

Hansen said he had no chance to get his stick on the puck. "It was too quick," he said.

The Canucks also scored with two seconds left, but it was disallowed when a video review showed that the play was offside.

"It was tough, they were all close calls," Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said. "We battled back, our power play showed a little more than last time."

The Canucks cut the lead to 3-2 at 10:36 of the third period on a power-play goal by Burrows with Parenteau serving a slashing penalty. Burrows' fourth goal of the season came on a deflection of a shot taken by defenseman Yannick Weber.

Lupul scored his sixth goal of the season - and 200th of his career - at 16:13 of the third period to give Toronto a two-goal lead.

Canucks right winger Radim Vrbata hit the post early in the first period before the Maple Leafs took a 1-0 lead at 8:23 of the first on the sixth goal of the season by van Riemsdyk, who shot from the slot after receiving a nifty pass from center Nazem Kadri.

The Canucks took the first four penalties. The Maple Leafs had a two-man advantage for nearly a minute during the second period when Canucks center Bo Horvat was assessed a holding minor and Burrows followed with a holding penalty.

After Horvat's penalty had expired, reducing Toronto's advantage to one, Parenteau scored his fourth goal of the season at 8:51 of the second period and it was 2-0.

The Maple Leafs took their first penalty of the game at 14:08 of the second period when they were called for too many men on the ice.

It nearly worked in Toronto's favor when right winger Michael Grabner was hauled down in the neutral zone when he was breaking into the open and was awarded a penalty shot, but Miller stopped him.

The Canucks scored an even-strength goal by Hansen, his sixth of the season at 16:33 of the second from the slot to cut the lead to 2-1.

The Maple Leafs put the puck in the net with 1:21 left in the second period, but there was no goal because it was knocked in with a high stick.

"We made way too many mistakes," Canucks center Henrik Sedin said. "We were sloppy. We didn't get anything going. We have to simplify things. Our power play got one tonight and started to feel a little bit better, but five-on-five we have to get away from those turnovers."

NOTES: Vancouver recalled C Hunter Shinkaruk from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League. The 21-year-old has 10 goals in 12 games with Utica this season. He was selected by Vancouver in the first round, 24th overall, in the 2013 draft. ... Canucks C Brandon Sutter (lower body) missed his second straight game and is listed as day to day. ... Canucks RW Brandon Prust (ankle) and D Luca Sbisa (foot) remained out but could soon return to the lineup. ... Toronto G James Reimer started for the seventh consecutive game. ... Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said C Nazem Kadri has been his best forward this season. ... The Maple Leafs' next game will be Sunday in New York against the Rangers. ... The Canucks will play the sixth game of their seven-game trip on Monday in Montreal against the Canadiens.