Auston Matthews scored in overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night at Prudential Center. After a golden opportunity to end the game for defenseman Brett Pesce, Matthews was able to go in on Jacob Markstrom for an abbreviated breakaway that resulted in the winning goal.

Ondrej Palat scored the lone goal for the Devils (18-10-3), who have now lost two of three games on a five-game homestand which ends this week. Markstrom made just 15 saves on 17 shots.

Matthews and Pontus Holmberg scored for the Leafs (17-9-2), who ended a mini two-game skid with their second win over New Jersey this season. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz was fantastic in his home state, making 38 saves to pick up the win.

The Maple Leafs also defeated the Devils 4-2 in New Jersey’s home opener.

First Period

The Devils dominated pretty much the entire game and things got off to a quick start in the first period. Almost halfway through, the Devils had a great chance to break through with a two-on-one for Justin Dowling and Nathan Bastian, with the latter nearly beating Stolarz.

Captain Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer would have the next two-on-one opportunity but yet again, Stolarz was there to shut the door on Mercer. That chance came while the Devils were shorthanded with just under 4:00 left in the period.

Paul Cotter, who entered the game on an 11-game goal drought, had a shot to get on the score sheet but hit the crossbar slightly on a chance toward the end of the first.

The Devils outshot the Maple Leafs a whopping 16-1 in the period with a 79.49 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) overall.

Second Period

With the Devils leading shots 18-1 during the second period, Markstrom was finally challenged on a point-blank shot attempt from Matthews. Markstrom denied the Maple Leafs captain to keep the score 0-0. Matthew Knies made an excellent pass through the defenders legs to get the puck to Matthews, who was sticked away by Markstrom.

The Devils would end the goalless drought on Palat’s goal at 12:44 of the period. Jesper Bratt was able to gather the puck just outside the blue line on a turnover. He skated through and was able to make a great feed to Palat, who was able to beat Stolarz stick-side for his fourth goal of the season. It was Bratt’s 25th assist and 38th point of the season.

The Devils had plenty of great scoring chances while shorthanded and Hischier had the best about mid-way through the period. The Devils’ captain was able to break up a pass at the blue line while the Leafs were on a power play. He skated in on a breakaway and tried to beat Stolarz five-hole but was unsuccessful.

Toronto would bounce back a bit in the second, finishing with a CF% of 64.00 in the frame. Still, the Devils continued to dominate shots at 27-6 through two periods.

Third Period

Markstrom made a handful of great saves in the game but wasn’t challenged much overall. He stopped the Leafs on a one-time try from the point early in the third to preserve the 1-0 lead.

The Devils had plenty of chances to break through and open this game up and Stefan Noesen really could have used a goal in this one. Instead, Stolarz was able to stone Noesen during a power play a little past the mid-way point of the period.

That sequence was ultimately what led to the tying goal by Holmberg. The Leafs chipped the puck up the ice after a scrum out in front of Stolarz during that power play. Connor Dewar was in a battle for the puck with Mercer, who fell to the ice. Holmberg came from behind and put a weak shot attempt on Markstrom, who clearly wasn’t ready or in good position. The puck went through Markstrom’s pads five-hole to make it 1-1.

Shortly after the goal, defenseman Luke Hughes nearly went coast-to-coast to give the Devils the lead back. Stolarz denied Hughes in close.

The Devils finished regulation overshooting the Maple Leafs 38-14. It was a pretty even period in terms of CF%.

Overtime

It wasn’t an overly eventful overtime, though it was another stretch of play where the Devils appeared to dominate. New Jersey maintained possession for most of the extra frame before losing.

Again, Pesce had a great chance to end things but it would lead to Matthews getting the breakaway. It was unfortunate, but when you are in the other teams zone for most of overtime, you need to capitalize.

Game Notes

Another Tough Loss

It’s beginning to feel like almost all of the Devils’ losses this season are in games in which they should have won. It was a game where Anthony Stolarz stood on his head and the Devils should have scored at least two-or-three goals in regulation to win. Markstrom’s goal allowed in regulation was also very soft. Sure, there’s a chance the Leafs break through with an extra skater if it’s still 1-0 Devils but this should have been a somewhat easy shutout on the scoresheet.

Secondary Scoring A Concern?

We knew before the game that head coach Sheldon Keefe shook up the lines to get some more scoring from the bottom-six. The Devils had chances but it was again the Bratt and Hughes unit that got the goal. Hischier had his chances. Cotter and Noesen had a few opportunities to score but didn’t.

This was a game where you really needed a goal from that third line and they just weren’t able to break through. It was also a night where the best power play in the NHL went 0-for-4. Credit to the Leafs’ penalty kill but that also factored in. The Devils need to find more depth scoring in order to come out on top in contests like Tuesday night against a tough team.

What’s Next?

The Devils get back to work to try and end this skid against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday at 7:00 pm ET at Prudential Center.