Matthews’ Overtime Magic Secures Maple Leafs’ Close Victory Over Devils

In the thrilling Tuesday night face-off, Auston Matthews turned the game around in the final moments, carrying the Toronto Maple Leafs to a nail-biting 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. With only 2:09 remaining in overtime, Matthews outpaced Devils’ defensive force Brett Pesce to seize a stray puck near center ice. His ninth goal of the season came when he outsmarted Devils’ goaltender Jacob Markstrom on the glove side.

Toronto’s Late Surge and New Jersey’s Lead

Pontus Holmberg evened the score for Toronto at 10:42 in the third period with an impressive short-handed goal. Before this, the Devils held a 1-0 lead thanks to Ondrej Palat’s first goal since mid-November against Florida. This goal came at 7:16 of the second period, assisted by Jesper Bratt. Bratt has been a key player for the Devils recently, accumulating 10 points with three goals and seven assists in the team’s last six games.

Goalie Showdown and Power-play Struggles

Anthony Stolarz, the Leafs’ goalie, pulled off an impressive 37-save performance, while Markstrom for the Devils made 11 saves. Despite being ranked 14th in the NHL for shots on goal, averaging 29.1, the Leafs had a season-low shot total of 12 in this game. The Devils, boasting the NHL’s top power-play unit, experienced a dry spell, failing to capitalize on four opportunities. The team’s power play has been struggling recently, going 0 for 9 in their last three games.

Key Takeaways and Upcoming Games

An important moment in the match came when the Devils outshot Toronto 15-1 in the first period, two of these shots even being short-handed, yet failed to convert. In notable stats, Mitch Marner of the Leafs saw his road point streak of eight games, inclusive of four goals and nine assists, come to an end. This was the second-longest active run, trailing only Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are now gearing up to take on the Anaheim Ducks at home this Thursday. Meanwhile, the Devils will be hosting the Los Angeles Kings on the same day, marking the fourth match in their five-game homestand.

Richard Hayes is the go-to writer for all things soccer at 21Sports.com. His international perspective and in-depth knowledge of the game have made him a trusted voice in the industry. Richard’s experience covering major leagues around the world allows him to offer unique insights that resonate with both casual fans and die-hard enthusiasts. When not covering matches, Richard enjoys coaching youth soccer in his community.