Devils Skid Hits 5 Games with Latest Loss to Toronto
MAPLE LEAFS 6 – DEVILS 4
The struggles continue for the New Jersey Devils, who suffered their fifth straight defeat this time by the count of 6-4 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, after Toronto was able to mount a four-goal third period to stun Jersey.
The Devils built a 4-2 lead through the first two periods, including scoring three goals in the first period. New Jersey jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Paval Zacha and Jesper Boqvist. Andreas Johnsson tapped in the Devs third goal of the period on a pass by Dawson Mercer to give Jersey a 3-1 lead midway through the first period.
It was all down hill from there.
“We put ourselves in good position to win the game against a good team and came up short in the end,” Devils assistant coach Alain Nasreddine said. “Gave them too many opportunities there in the end and they made us pay.”
With New Jersey up 4-2, Jason Spezza lifted the puck into the top left corner of the net some 4:16 into the third period to begin the Toronto onslaught. Nine minutes later the Maple Leafs tied it up at four on Mitchell Marner’s 12th goal of the season. Ilya Mikheyev broke the tie about at the 16:56 mark on a shorthanded shot into the net to give Toronto a 5-4 lead.
Touch of magic! 🎩#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/65s0yVFBtM
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 1, 2022
The patience on Kerfy!!#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/xNRk9z201O
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 1, 2022
Austin Matthews later tallied what would be his third goal of the night on a power play inside the final minute of the game as icing on the cake for the Maple Leafs.
The Devils will try to avenge their loss tonight when these same two squads meet up at the Prudential Center at 7:30 p.m. .It will be the final game before the NHL winter break.
