Recap: Maple Leafs break the streak, defeat Devils in overtime

After starting 2025 4-0, the Toronto Maple Leafs took a turn and have followed that up with an 0-3 record and losing by three goals in every game. With Sheldon Keefe returning to Toronto for the first time, and John Tavares going on IR, the pressure was on to turn things around.

The Maple Leafs won the first two games this season against the Devils, both in New Jersey, and the hope tonight was this would be the opponent to break the losing streak.

Early on it doesn't look like it, as Jack Hughes catches a pass in front of Joseph Woll, bounces the puck off Woll's glove, and it trickles into the net to make it 1-0 Devils before the Leafs even get a shot on net.

1-0 New Jersey.

Thankfully the Maple Leafs play picks up from here, and the forwards get a little more energy in their play, a little more pep in their step. Defense is holding the Devils back some more, and by the mid way point in the first shots are tied at five, 5-2 Leafs since this goal. The Leafs love having Jake McCabe back.

The trio of Ekman-Larsson, Domi, and Nylander team up and come close to sending a puck over Jakob Markstroms shoulder but it goes just too high and the Leafs don't tie it up.

They'll get a chance on the power play after Paul Cotter is called for tripping Pontus Holmberg.

Nico Hischier gets a shorthanded breakaway with three Leafs trailing, but Woll made the save.

The power play ends quickly after Mitch Marner is called for hooking Nico Hischier on the play.

Neither team scores on the power play.

With the clock ticking down Jake McCabe catches a puck out of the air, sends a pass to Matthew Knies who gets poke checked so hard he somersaults over Markstrom and the buzzer goes.

Devils lead Leafs 1-0, Leafs lead in shots 10-8.

Hughes goal aside, the period ended up pretty even between the teams. Hopefully the Leafs carry this over to the next period and get the lead.

The Leafs do come out strong against the Devils at the start of the second with several chances and much better passing plays in the first five.

Hard work pays off as Max Domi collects a bouncing puck from the Devils, and gets a good pass off to William Nylander who rips a one timer into the Devils net to finally tie the game.

1-1 all after 27 minutes.

That's assist number 300 for Max Domi.

Another penalty for Toronto sees Ekman-Larsson go down for tripping Nico Hischier, the victim of Toronto's first penalty.

Hischier makes Toronto regret this buy giving the Devils the lead back with an effortless top corner snipe.

2-1 Devils as we approach the mid-way mark of the game.

The crowd tries to get the Leafs going again with a big and loud "Go Leafs Go" chant, but they're spending a lot of time in their own zone post-goal.

Eventually the Leafs turn it around, and trap the Devils in their own zone for a few minutes, and it ends with the puck in the net....ting above the glass.

The second period ends with Leafs fans hoping for the best after a collision and pile up leads to Matthew Knies slowly getting up, and favouring his leg.

After two, it's 2-1 Devils, but the Leafs lead 22-14 in shots.

The Leafs keep the pressure up in the third, pushing hard for a tying goal. They get lucky when Jonas Siegenthaler trips Auston Matthews, and Matthews retaliates by scoring a power play goal to tie the game up.

This goal makes it 2-2, and is Auston Matthews 20th goal against the Devils in 21 games.

Sadly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson follows this up by tripping Dougie Hamilton, giving the Devils their third power play, and Nico Hischier gets this second power play goal of the game.

With five minutes to go in the game, the Leafs lead in shots 33-22 but are struggling to challenge Markstrom.

Auston Matthews hears me demanding more goals, and he obliges, catching New Jersey on a line change and going in tight and high over Markstroms blocker.

Game tie at threes.

That assist from Marner is his 700th career point.

The Leafs continue to put pressure on the Devils, lots of passing and shooting in the Devils end as the clock ticks down to the end of the game. A beside the net shot has the crowd on it's feet as they think Matthews scored again, but the puck keeps rolling.

After three minutes the Leafs lose control and they dash for the bench to change lines after two minutes of constant pressure.

We have a Leafs end face off with 1:44 to go.

The Leafs get the puck out of their end, Jake McCabe shoots from the blueline, and Markstrom makes the save. After a mad dash for a regulation win, the teams are heading for overtime.

Matthews - Marner - McCabe start for the Leafs in overtime, which is brought to you by M&Ms.

The Devils win the puck, and control overtime to start, and they get a hard ping on the post after 30 seconds that makes the crowd gasp. After a minute of Devils control, the Leafs finally get the puck and switch lines.

In the change chaos, Nylander hops the boards, grabs the puck and comes in all alone on Markstrom to score the game winning goal, and win the season series against the Devils 3-0.

Maple Leafs win 4-3 in overtime!

The losing streak is over, and in exciting fashion. It wasn't a boring game after that slow start. A little dicey at times, and they shouldn't keep losing the lead minutes after gaining it, but the job got done.

The Maple Leafs next play Saturday night in Montreal against the Canadiens.

That should be a barn burner.

See you then!