In Newark Friday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs opened a can of offense I the first period and then coasted to a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.
The Leafs scored four goals in a span of less than five minutes to deflate the Devils and the crowd.
“I knew going the season that we would get better and better as the season has gone on; I think we have done that,” Toronto’s  James van Riemsdyk said. “Where that would leave us playoffs-wise and points-wise you never really know. There are lots of unknowns, but the guys that management has brought in have done a really good job and been key contributors. Now, we can’t be satisfied here, we have to keep pushing and keep trying to get better because I think we have a lot of upside here.”
Nazem Kadri, Connor Brown, Auston Matthews, and Tyler Bozak before 15:15 of the first period to make the score 4-0 for the Leafs.
Cory Schneider was replaced after yielding three goals on five shots and was hooked in favor of Keith Kinkaid.
Frederik Andersen made 30 saves for the win, most coming after the big lead was built and the Devils had regrouped.
“All those goals were ugly goals that were happening in front of the net,” Matthews said. “Especially against a team like [the Devils], that’s all they give you is those ugly goals. You have to get to the front of the net and we definitely did tonight.”
WATCH: All Maple Leafs vs. Devils highlights
The Maple Leafs did not record a shot on goal in the third period as they relaxed for too much and might have paid for that if not for having played the Devils.
“You take pride in preparing and being there for your teammates and tonight I didn’t give my team a chance to win,” Schneider said.
New Jersey did not get on the board until PA Parenteau and Jon Merrill with less than three minutes left in regulation.
“We got ourselves in the hole. I think the thing that we can build on is we didn’t drift and become individualistic and not play hard in the final 40 minutes of the game. We just weren’t sharp enough offensively to get ourselves back in earlier than what we did,” New Jersey head coach John Hynes said describing the loss.
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