TORONTO – Jake Allen saved 42 shots, Nico Hischier scored a goal and contributed to two other goals, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Tuesday.
Jack Hughes scored two goals, including one into the empty net, and Timo Meier added a goal and an assist, while Luke Hughes and Max Willman scored the rest of the goals for New Jersey (36-33-4).
Jesper Bratt assisted in three goals for the Devils, who have won four of their last five games as they aim for a playoff spot. Curtis Lazar also contributed two assists.
Auston Matthews, with his NHL-leading 59th goal, William Nylander and Tyler Bertuzzi scored for Toronto (40-22-9), which got 19 saves from Joseph Woll.
T.J. Brodie provided two assists.
The Leafs are currently third in the Atlantic Division as the playoffs are less than a month away, while the Devils are five points behind the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.
Toronto was without injured forward Mitch Marner (high ankle sprain) and goaltender Ilya Samsonov (undisclosed), as well as defensemen Morgan Rielly (upper-body injury) and Joel Edmundson (undisclosed).
Trailing 2-1 after a strong first period where they had a 25-10 advantage in shots, the Leafs scored with their first shot on goal in the second period when Nylander scored at 3:14 to achieve his second consecutive 40-goal season.
Matthews scored his 59th goal on a break at 4:51, but the Devils tied the game 46 seconds later when Meier scored his 24th goal.
Willman then scored only his second goal of the 2023-24 season when he took advantage of a loose puck with Woll unable to defend at 13:05, giving them a 4-3 lead after two periods.
Allen made a crucial save on Max Domi in the middle of the third period as Toronto pushed for an equalizer. However, later in the period, the Leafs forward made a risky pass that led to a breakaway for Jack Hughes, who scored his 25th goal past Woll with 3:13 left in regulation.
The Devils centre then secured the win with an empty net goal.
The Leafs scored 64 seconds into the first period when Bertuzzi received a long pass from Domi and beat Allen to his forehand for his 16th goal.
The Devils equalized at 4:25 when Hughes, who spent some of his childhood in Toronto while his dad worked for the Leafs, entered the offensive zone and shot the puck past Woll’s glove for the rookie defenseman’s ninth goal.
The home team kept pressuring Allen after that — with 38-14 shot attempts in the first 20 minutes — but couldn’t get the puck past the New Jersey goaltender before Hischier scored his 24th goal on a 2-on-1 with 2:04 remaining in the period.
MARNER, SAMSONOV SKATE
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 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in the late stages of the third period. Keefe also stated that the team does not expect Edmundson to be available this week.
GREENER’S PASTURE
Devils interim head coach Travis Green, who took over for the fired Lindy Ruff three weeks ago, played parts of three seasons in Toronto, including when the team made a run to the conference final in 2022. “Every player likes to come and play here,” said the 53-year-old. “But I think every player enjoys playing for the Leafs, as well. Special place.”
UP NEXT
Toronto will play against the Washington Capitals on Thursday.
New Jersey will go to play the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
This article from The Canadian Press was initially released on March 26, 2024.
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