Devil’s win 11th straight, beat Leafs 3-2 in overtime
The Toronto Maple Leafs were able to grab a point against the red-hot New Jersey Devils, falling 3-2 in overtime.
New Jersey also snapped an eight-game losing streak against Toronto dating back to April 2018. They won at Scotiabank Arena for the first time since October 2017.
Matt Murray had another great performance since his return but was unable to grab the win allowing three goals on 33 shots. Devils Vitek Vanecek continued his strong play moving to 8-1-0 on the year.
Auston Matthews opened the scoring on the powerplay. Of his eight goals this season, six of them have been powerplay markers. Matthews would grab an assist in this one as well moving him to over a point-per-game pace for the first time this season. He has eight goals and 11 assists in 18 games.
Mitch Marner grabbed an assist, extending his point streak to 11 games. This is an NHL high.
Jesper Bratt tied the game just 24 seconds later to even the score. Bratt has recorded a point in 15 of the Devils 17 games. Captain Nico Hischier scored the only goal in the second period giving the Devils the lead for majority of the contest.
It wasn’t until 2:09 left in regulation with Murray on the bench that William Nylander would tie the game with a shot deflecting off New Jersey defenseman Jonas Siegenathaler past Vanecek.
In the overtime frame it was Yegor Sharangovich off a rebound chance after Jack Hughes stole the puck from John Tavares at the top of the Leafs zone.
It was the third time this season the Leafs have lost in the first minute of the overtime frame. They are 1-4 in overtime.
New Jersey moves to 14-3-0 on the year winning their 11th straight game. They sit two points back of the Boston Bruins for the league lead. They head to Ottawa to play the Senators Saturday.
Toronto falls to 9-5-4 but still hold possession of second place in the Atlantic division. The Tampa Bay Lightning have won three straight and sit just a point back.
The Leafs host the struggling Buffalo Sabres Saturday and are expected to wear their new Reverse Retro jerseys. Buffalo is losers of seven straight.
TOR Scoring: Matthews PP (8), Nylander (8)
NJD Scoring: Bratt (7), Hischier (9), Sharangovich OT (4)