Any carryover of positive energy created by the Blue Jays’ win was not enough to help their neighbours down the street as the Maple Leafs lost to the Devils 5 – 2 at the Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night.
Despite an uneven first period, Toronto managed to get an early lead. At the 6:36 mark, John Tavares won a battle for a rebound in front of the New Jersey net, then slid the puck past Devil’s goaltender Jake Allen to make it 1-0.
The lead lasted through the period, but Jersey centreman Jack Hughes evened the score at 1-1, 1:27 into the second, beating Anthony Stolarz with a wrister from between the circles off a nice pass from Jesper Bratt. The Toronto bench challenged the goal, claiming Stolarz was interfered with by a crease lurking Ondrej Palat, but that argument went nowhere. The goal was upheld, and the Leafs were penalized for their failed attempt at a reprieve.
That ensuing power play resulted in another New Jersey goal. Timo Meier one-timed a Luke Hughes pass on net. Stolarz made the initial save, but could not stop Cody Glass’ rebound shot. About a minute and a half later, the Devils scored again. Luke Glendening led a four-on-one breakout, dropped the puck to defenceman Breden Dillon, who fired the puck past Stolarz to make it 3-1.
The Leafs, who at times looked slow and lost, did make a momentary push. Forward Matias Maccelli finished off a beautiful passing play that originated in the Toronto zone at 7:03 of the second to make it 3-2. Oliver Ekman-Larsson threaded the puck to Tavares at centre ice, who flipped it forward, springing Nylander on a two-on-one. Maccelli scored his first of the season after tapping in Nylander’s backhanded dish.
But the Leafs had no answer for Jack Hughes, who scored his second goal at 16:37 of the period. Max Domi made a lazy entry at the Jersey blue line, Bratt intercepted it and fired it cross-ice to a streaking Hughes, who beat Stolarz to the post to make it 4-2 Devils. Hughes added an empty-netter late in the third period for a hat trick and a 5-2 New Jersey win.
The Leafs will attempt to get back on track Friday night in Buffalo.
