Snapping the Skid in Style(s): Game 46 - Devils (3) @ Maple Leafs (4)

The Maple Leafs hosted the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. There were a lot of

stories heading into this mid-week matchup, with the return of former Leafs head coach

Sheldon Keefe being at the forefront. The Maple Leafs had also placed alternate captian

John Tavares on the team’s injured reserve earlier Thursday morning, with a lower body

injury sustained in practice.

The Devils wasted no time getting on the board first. Following a turnover at the

Leafs blueline, Jack Hughes found himself all alone out front of goaltender Joseph Woll and

capitalizing on the pretty forehand backhand deke in tight at 2:21 in the first period. Both

teams dug into a defensive position, and the first ended with New Jersey up 1-0.

Toronto found an answer in the second period, in the form of William Nylander. The

Swedish forward found himself uncovered in the high slot and buried a nifty feed from

linemate Max Domi at 6:14 in the second period. The tie would not last long, as after the

teams traded minor penalties 20 seconds apart, Devils captain Nico Hischier would put

New Jersey back up on the powerplay, exactly two minutes after Nylander tied the score.

The penalty came as a result of Mitch Marner hooking Hischier on a short-handed partial

breakaway, which was certainly a tough look for the struggling five-forward Leafs

powerplay unit. Another relatively low-event second period would end with the Devils

leading 2-1.

The third period started much like the second ended, with tough, defensive hockey.

Neither team generated too much through the first five minutes. But a powerplay would

give the Maple Leafs a chance to respond, and respond they did. Maple Leafs captain

Auston Matthews buried a rebound from a Nylander one-timer from the point, knotting the

score up once more, 7:43 into the third period. However, Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-

Larsson would take a hooking minor, and the Devils captain would restore New Jersey’s

one-goal lead just over two minutes later. Matthews, not to be outdone by the Devils

captain, rips a shot short side over Jacob Markstrom's right shoulder, right below the

crossbar, tying the game at 3 apiece with under five minutes to play. The teams would

exchange chances near the end of the third, but this one would need overtime.

New Jersey won the opening draw in overtime and got the first possession of the

frame. Devils defenseman Luke Hughes would get two of his team's best chances in

overtime, hitting the post to the right of Woll from the top of the circle before getting

another golden opportunity from the other side, but would barely miss low to Woll’s left-

hand side. The Leafs would gain possession, and both teams would start a change.

Nylander would sub on for Matthews, and he found himself lost behind the Devils defense.

Marner hit him for the 3-line pass, sending Nylander in all alone against Jacob Markstrom.

Nylander wouldn’t over complicate it and buries the snapshot low glove-side, securing the

4-3 comeback win.

The victory snaps a 3-game losing streak for the buds. Auston Matthews and

William Nylander each recorded two goals. Matthews has been red hot recently, recording

6 goals, 11 points in his last 7 games dating back to January 4. Nylander, who had cooled

off recently, only recording 1 goal during his previous 6 games going into Thursday, but

looked like his usual self against New Jersey. The Maple Leafs sit atop the Atlantic Division

with 58 points, three ahead of the second place and defending Stanely Cup Champion

Florida Panthers. They have a pair of games against division opponents, starting by

renewing rivalries in a tough matchup against the surprisingly red-hot Montreal Canadians

on Saturday night at the Bell Center. Montreal is 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, taking down

some of the league's top teams, including the Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Vegas

Golden Knights, and the Florida Panthers. The teams have split the season series one

apiece thus far. The Habs won the season-opening duel 1-0, ending Toronto’s historic non-

shutout streak that spanned 227 games over 3 seasons. The Leafs took the second

matchup, in a comfortable 4-1 victory on November 9th