In Newark, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Michael Bunting and Auston Matthews scored two minutes apart in the third period to erase a 3-2 deficit to the New Jersey Devils, and take a 4-3 lead.
“Our guys stuck with it, made some key plays, clutch plays at key times,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It was a really great way to finish our road trip.”
Ilya Samsonov made 30 saves and protected the lead for the Leafs win.
Matthews goal came off the power play.
“I think it kind of gave me a little bit more space to get a shot off,” Matthews said. “It was just really a nice heads-up play by [Bunting], and a beautiful pass by ‘Willie’ just to read the pressure and find me there in the slot.”
Toronto improved to 39-17-8.
“I heard [Matthews] calling for it, and clearly he was wide open, so I didn’t want to get in the way of that, and he made that count,” Bunting said.
Erik Haula scored twice for New Jersey, Ondrej Palat added a single marker in the loss.
“With five minutes left, the other team should have to earn the opportunity,” New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. “They didn’t earn it. We gave it to them. We didn’t stay on the puck on the tying goal. We didn’t come back hard enough, and they get to walk in and tie the game.”
Calle Jarnkrok scored to give the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead in the second period.
“This was about perseverance and never giving up,” Matthews said. “Even when they got the lead later in the third, we just battled and stayed with it. We got some big saves by [Samsonov], and I thought our defense made some big plays, especially at the end on the 6-on-5.
“It was one of those games you just kind of have to grind out, and that’s what we did.”
Mitchell Marner struck fro Toronto in the third period to restored their lead, 2-1, after New Jersey had tied it, 1-1, in the middle frame.
“I just tried to keep the pressure on, tried to make him force a quick play, and kind of bounced outside and thought I could have had a step on it, and then I did,” Marner said. “I tried to steal it and went down the ice to try to make a move that resulted in the way it did.”
Vitek Vanecek made 21 saves in the loss.
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