Game Recap: New Jersey Devils vs Toronto Maple Leafs 12/27/19

New Jersey Devils (12-19-6 30pts) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (21-14-4 46pts)

Game Recap:

After being off for the NHL’s holiday break, the New Jersey Devils are back in action tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was a game of speed, skill, & scoring between these two teams. New Jersey would score first as Nico Hischier added his seventh goal on the season which was assisted by Jesper Bratt & Kyle Palmieri. However, Toronto would strike twice quickly towards the end of the first period as they got goals from Zach Hyman and Ilya Mikheyev. After the first period, the Devils would trail the Maple Leafs 2-1.

Nikita Gusev would add his sixth goal on the season early in the second period to even the score up 2-2. Kasperi Kapanen of the Leafs would give his team back the lead moments later. However, the Devils top line gave the Devils their first lead of the game as they got goals from Kyle Palmieri and Jesper Bratt. After two periods, the Devils would lead 4-3.

Unfortunately for the Devils, the season long theme of being unable to protect a lead continues. Maple Leafs captain John Tavares would tip in a William Nylander shot you tie the game at 4-4 to force overtime.

Speaking of William Nylander, he would be the overtime hero and would give the Maple Leafs the victory by a final score of 5-4. The Devils are back in action this Sunday for a later afternoon matchup with the Ottawa Senators as they travel north of the border.

 

Lineups:

New Jersey Devils

 

Toronto Maple Leafs

 

First Period Highlights

 

Second Period Highlights

 

Third Period Highlights

 

Overtime Highlight

 

Final Stats:    NJ-4        TOR-5

Shots:               28              37

Hits:                 24               08

PP:                   1/3              2/4

Faceoffs:      50.9%          49.1%