Leafs beat Devils in Overtime

First Period

The first 21 events in the NHL's play-by-play were all things done by New Jersey, barring one Auston Matthews faceoff win. Eventually, the Leafs added some blocked shots and hits, and you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd put a Habs game on.

The zone exits were better than they've been, the Leafs were actually passing to a guy, not a spot on the ice, but that guy was often trying to move up along the boards, and he'd be mugged before the redline. And then they'd try it again.

This was the entire period, actually:

Reaves with a good defensive move:

Toronto got the first penalty with four minutes to go. Leafs had one SOG before the power play, and they had one after it was over. Anthony Stolarz got a break, though.

Simon Benoit knocked the puck over the glass while flailing about trying to defend. NJ had a power play with less than a minute lest.

Nothing that didn't happen matters, and the score was zero-all after one.

That was not the worst period of hockey the Leafs have played this year, which is alarming. No chart necessary. Corsi was almost as bad as the SOG differential.

Second Period

The Devils got a power play thanks to a Morgan Rielly slash, and Auston Matthews shorthanded with Mitch Marner did not actually get the Leafs second SOG as he shot it wide.

Eventually one had to get past Stolarz:

Leafs got another power play, and this one looked dangerous at times, well relative to the first one, anyway. The best chance was Nico Hischier's shorthanded rush, though.

Somehow there was a Matthews to Reaves play and it was another quality chance.

The line blender came out, and Fraser Minten moved up and Matt Knies down – Knies is a better choice for that third line.

Chris Tanev and Simon Benoit got stuck out on the ice until Tanev took a penalty.

Matthews had a third breakaway and shot it wide again. He's the only guy actually getting good chances.

Conor Timmins almost scored – in his own net on a very mistimed clearing attempt. Stolarz with the save:

Anthony Stolarz is a god amongst men.

More line blender late in the second did not manifest any goals. But Max Domi did shoot the puck.

Max Pacioretty with a massive hit on Jack Hughes.

Were the Leafs better? Well, they'd have to be wouldn't they? But yes, they dominated in Corsi, but because the game turned into Leafs-typical low event.

After two, it was 1-0 Devils, and the Leafs had a pulse that period, but it was weak.

Third Period

Leafs got a power play four minutes in, but the Matthews line were at the end of their shift, but they started the power play anyway, just with Rielly with them. They did not do well. Cue some more stories about how Matthews is broken.

It was a little too cute as a coaching move, too fancy, not playing simple hockey.

The second unit was dramatically better. That's not a good people management choice either, not putting unit two out for half a minute says you don't think they're any good.

Matt Knies took a boarding call for hitting Johnathan Kovacevic face on into the glass. Great timing.

Although... this was great timing:

Second goal of the year. It's very Leafs to tie this ridiculous game up with a shorty from a guy who couldn't buy a goal at Goalz R Us.

Dewar with some speed here:

Matthews with a great shot, Markström with a great save snatching it out of midair.

Good flurry at the end of the period from the Leafs to make the tie game seem a little less undeserved, but that was another low-event period.

Score was one-all after two.

Overtime

Auston Matthews. That's the writeup.