Jake Allen made 42 saves, Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists, and the New Jersey Devils defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Tuesday.
Jack Hughes scored twice, including into an empty net, and Timo Meier added a goal and an assist, while Luke Hughes and Max Willman provided the rest of New Jersey’s offense (36-33-4).
Jesper Bratt had three assists for the Devils, who have won four of five as they fight for a playoff spot. Curtis Lazar added two of his own.
Auston Matthews, with his NHL-leading 59th goal, William Nylander and Tyler Bertuzzi responded for Toronto (40-22-9), which got 19 saves from Joseph Woll.
TJ Brodie had two assists.
The Leafs sit in third place in the Atlantic Division with less than a month left in the postseason, while the Devils entered Tuesday five points out of the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto was without injured forward Mitch Marner (sprained ankle) and goaltender Ilya Samsonov (undisclosed), along with defensemen Morgan Rielly (upper body injury) and Joel Edmundson (undisclosed).
Trailing 2-1 after a dominant opening period that saw them maintain a 25-10 shot advantage, the Leafs scored with their first attempt on goal in the second when Nylander capitalized on the run at 3:14 to turn the game around. goal. support 40 goal campaigns.
Matthews scored his 59th on a break at 4:51, but the Devils tied it 46 seconds later when Meier scored his 24th.
Willman then scored just his second goal of 2023-24 when he pounced on a loose puck with Woll down and out at 13:05 for a 4-3 lead through two periods.
Allen made a big stop on Max Domi midway through the third as Toronto looked for an equalizer. But the Leafs forward made a reckless pass later in the period that resulted in Jack Hughes’ breakaway past Woll for his 25th with 3:13 left in regulation.
The Devils center then put the ball into an empty goal.
The Leafs opened the scoring 64 seconds into the first when Bertuzzi took a stretch pass from Domi and beat Allen with a right-footed move for his 16th.
The Devils got that goal back at 4:25 when Hughes, who spent part of his childhood in Toronto when his father worked for the Leafs, moved into the offensive zone and fired a shot past Woll’s glove for the ninth. of the rookie defenseman.
The home team peppered Allen from there (shot attempts scored 38-14 in 20 minutes) but couldn’t find a way past the New Jersey goalie before Hischier scored his 24th on a 2-on-1 with 2:04 remaining in the end. period.
MARNER, PATÍN SAMSONOV
Marner and Samsonov were both on the ice before the morning skate. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said both could rejoin the team for Wednesday’s practice. Marner has missed eight games, while Samsonov left Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers late in the third period. Keefe added that the team does not expect Edmundson to be available this week.
GREENER PASTURES
Devils interim head coach Travis Green, who replaced the fired Lindy Ruff three weeks ago, played parts of three seasons in Toronto, including when the team reached the conference finals in 2022. “All the players like him come play here.” the 53-year-old said. “But I think all the players also enjoy playing for the Leafs. Special place.”
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Toronto: Hosts the Washington Capitals on Thursday.
New Jersey: Visit the Buffalo Sabers on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2024.