The New Jersey Devils lost 2-1 in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night at the Prudential Center. The Devils dominated every facet of the game but only managed one goal despite an incredibly lopsided shot total. While they managed to get a point, it’s a deflating loss in such a one-sided performance. The Devils fell to 18-10-3, while the Maple Leafs improved to 17-9-2.
Game Recap
Period One
The Devils came out flying, putting eight shots on Jackson, New Jersey native, Anthony Stolarz, in the first five minutes. They allowed Toronto just one shot attempt, which did not get through to Jacob Markstrom.
The Devils continued to control play, pinning Toronto in its zone and generating good chances. New Jersey dominated zone time and puck possession in one of their best first-period efforts so far.
The Devils took a late penalty but continued their onslaught with two shorthanded odd-man rush shots. Toronto did not register a shot attempt on the power play.
New Jersey got its own power play with a few seconds left in the period, and it carried over to the second.
The Devils outshot the Maple Leafs 16-1 in a dominant first period.
Period Two
The Maple Leafs killed the rest of the penalty but immediately went back to the kill after Morgan Reilly took a slashing call.
The Devils couldn’t convert on the second power play, making them scoreless in their last six man-advantage opportunities.
Auston Matthews had a breakaway midway through the period, but Markstrom made a sparkling save on what was just the second shot he faced.
The Devils finally broke through at 7:16 with Ondrej Palat’s 4th goal of the season off a nice cross-ice feed from Jesper Bratt.
New Jersey had a tough shift following the goal and eventually took a penalty. Again, the Devils had the better chances despite being a man down, including a breakaway attempt by Nico Hischier that was stopped by Stolarz.
The Devils got their own power play after Tomas Tatar was high-sticked but again, they couldn’t cash in.
With the period winding down, Max Pacioretty caught Jack Hughes with a late, high hit that went uncalled to the ire of head coach Sheldon Keefe. Hughes remained on the bench.
New Jersey outshot Toronto 11-5 in the frame.
Period Three
The Devils were tagged with an early tripping penalty but they killed it again. Jack Hughes, who stayed in the game following the late hit, made a few key plays to deny zone entries for Toronto.
New Jersey got another power play after Matthew Knies laid a dangerous hit to the numbers of Johnathan Kovacevic and was called for boarding.
Kovacevic was slow to get up but remained in the game.
The Devils, who struggled on the power play all night, allowed a short-handed goal after Dawson Mercer was brought down while retrieving a puck. Pontus Holmberg chipped the puck past Markstrom with assists from Connor Dewar and Chris Tanev at 10:42.
The Devils endured a slight push by the Leafs but still controlled play. They couldn’t beat Stolarz in the remaining minutes, and the game went to overtime.
Overtime
The Devils, again, dominated the three-on-three frame,e but New Jersey couldn’t light the lamp. At 2:51, Matthews ended the game with an unassisted goal off a breakaway, stealing a point in a game that the Devils controlled.
New Jersey outshot Toronto 39-16 in the overtime loss.
New Jersey Devils Takeaways
The Big Picture
While the result stings, it’s important to recognize New Jersey’s dominant performance against another top team in the East.
The Devils allowed just 16 shots on net, the fewest they have allowed all season. They dominated puck possession and largely imposed their will on the Maple Leafs, a team with lots of highly skilled talent. The Devils shot from everywhere and peppered Stolarz with dangerous chances. They did almost everything right but didn’t get the result that they likely deserved.
Though it’s frustrating to perform so well and only earn a point, if the Devils can replicate that level of play, they will win a lot of games in the future.
Power Play Woes
New Jersey’s power play, which was red hot and the best in the league, hit a major slump with an 0-9 stretch dating back to December 6th. The Devils’ last power-play goal was on December 3rd against the New York Rangers.
More concerning is the level of play demonstrated on recent power play attempts. Not only have the Devils not cashed in but they’ve been disconnected and struggled to get high-danger shots on goaltenders.
That issue was prominent against the Maple Leafs, who generated their best chances with New Jersey on a power play, highlighted by the shorthanded goal to tie the game in the third. The Devils likely wanted a save from Markstrom on a light shot from the circle, but the real problem lies with the slow back check that allowed the Maple Leafs player to gain position and get a shot off.
The Devils allowed numerous shorthanded breaks for the Maple Leafs during the game and were a bit lucky that they squandered chances with missed shots. New Jersey was too loose with the puck and consequently saw passes picked off and sent the other way which ultimately cost them two points.
Getting “Goalied”
The Devils have developed an “all or nothing” habit, where they either score a lot or not at all.
Of their 13 losses in regulation and overtime, New Jersey has been shut out five times this season, including a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their previous game.
Every team has nights during the season when they generate lots of high-danger chances but simply can’t beat an opposing netminder. However, it has happened to New Jersey so frequently that it indicates a potential problem with the Devils rather than something another team’s goalie is doing.
Looking at the five shutouts against New Jersey, the opposing netminders have a combined .904 SV%. That isn’t to take away from their respective performances, but it shows that New Jersey is facing roughly league-average goaltending, and once every few games, they can’t find ways to put the puck in the net.
While it wasn’t a shutout loss, the Devils more than doubled Toronto’s shot total, with 39 that got through to Stolarz, but they only managed one goal, illustrating the need for a solution to this odd trend of dominating games but falling short on the scoreboard.
Up Next
The Devils look to get back in the win column on Thursday night when they take on the Los Angeles Kings at the Rock.
The Kings sit second in the Pacific Division with a 17-8-3 record. They come to New Jersey on a six-game winning streak, the most recent being a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. on MSG and FDSNW.
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