Pride Night at The Rock: Maple Leafs 2, Devils 1 (OT) | Game Highlights

It was a thrilling Pride Night at the Prudential Center as the New Jersey Devils hosted the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs for the third game of a five-game homestand. Despite dominating the game with a 38-14 shot advantage, the Devils were unable to secure the win, falling 2-1 in overtime. Toronto’s Anthony Stolarz, a New Jersey native, played a standout role in the victory, with his stellar goaltending thwarting the Devils’ efforts.

“I thought that was the best game we’ve played all season,” said Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe. “I’m leaving here feeling good about our team tonight. It was our best game of the season.”

The game’s opening period was controlled by New Jersey, with the Devils outshooting the Leafs 15-1. However, despite the dominance, the scoreboard remained blank heading into the second period. Ondrej Palat finally broke the deadlock, scoring a goal off a beautiful assist from Jesper Bratt midway through the second. This gave the Devils a 1-0 lead that would hold until the third.

In the third period, Toronto’s Pontus Holmberg tied the game with a shorthanded goal, and with the game still deadlocked in overtime, Auston Matthews sealed the win for the Maple Leafs with a breakaway goal, handing New Jersey its first loss this season when leading after two periods.

Timo Meier acknowledged the team’s performance, saying, “We got a point. We obviously want to come out with two points.”

Key Observations from the Game:

• Ondrej Palat’s Contribution: Palat has been focusing more on creating opportunities for his linemates, Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes. His goal was a result of hard work and perfect timing, as Bratt drew attention from multiple Leafs defenders before feeding Palat for a well-executed shot. It was Palat’s first goal in 11 games.
• Timo Meier’s Defensive Play: Meier made one of the best defensive plays of the season, stopping a 2-on-1 shorthanded breakaway by Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Meier’s quick thinking and positioning helped prevent a scoring chance, showcasing his two-way game.
• Nathan Bastian’s Return: After missing 16 games with a broken jaw, Nathan Bastian returned to the lineup wearing a full-face shield. His physical presence was immediately felt, as he threw a big hit in his first shift and created a scoring chance shortly thereafter. “I really liked his first period. He was a big part of our energy,” Keefe commented.
• Devils’ Strong First Period: The Devils played one of their best first periods of the season, controlling the play and preventing Toronto from generating offensive chances. However, despite the dominant performance, they were unable to capitalize on their chances, leading to a 0-0 tie after the first.

What’s Next:

The Devils will look to bounce back on Thursday night when they continue their homestand, hosting the Los Angeles Kings at Prudential Center. The game begins at 7:08 p.m. ET, and you can catch the action on MSG or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.