Matthews scores OT winner to lift Maple Leafs to 2-1 win over Devils
The Maple Leafs will return home to face the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
Auston Matthews scored with 2:09 remaining in overtime to secure a 2-1 comeback victory for the Toronto Maple Leafs over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
Matthews capitalized on a loose puck near center ice, outpacing Devils defenseman Brett Pesce on a breakaway, and beat goaltender Jacob Markstrom on the glove side for his ninth goal of the season.
Earlier, Pontus Holmberg scored a short-handed goal at 10:42 of the third period to tie the game at 1-1 for Toronto.
The Devils had taken the lead at 7:16 of the second period when Ondrej Palat scored off an assist from Jesper Bratt. The goal was Palat's first since November 12, ending an 11-game drought.
Bratt extended his impressive form, tallying 10 points (three goals, seven assists) over New Jersey's last six games.
Toronto’s goaltender Anthony Stolarz delivered a standout performance, stopping 37 shots, while New Jersey's Jacob Markstrom made 11 saves. Despite outshooting Toronto 15-1 in the first period, including two short-handed attempts, the Devils were unable to capitalize.
The game also marked the end of Mitch Marner’s road point streak at eight games (four goals, nine assists), the second-longest active streak in the NHL behind Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman (10 games). Marner’s 14-game road point streak last season remains a Maple Leafs franchise record.
The Maple Leafs will return home to face the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
