Auston Matthews gets 66th goal in Leafs' win over Devils

Field Level Media|published: Tue 9th April, 22:22 2024

Apr 9, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) skates with the puck while being defended by New Jersey Devils left wing Ondrej Palat (18) during the first period at Prudential Center. credits: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Auston Matthews scored in his sixth consecutive game and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Tuesday night in Newark, N.J.

Matthews, who has seven goals in his past six games, now has 66 on the season as he attempts to become the first player to score at least 70 markers in a single season since the 1992-93 campaign.

Tyler Bertuzzi had two goals and an assist for the Maple Leafs (46-23-9, 101 points), who have won three straight and six of their past seven. Joseph Woll made 18 saves.

Matthews added an assist and now has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) during a 12-game point steak.

Toronto trails the Florida Panthers by three points for second place in the Atlantic Division.

Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer each had a goal and an assist for the Devils (37-37-5, 79 points), who have lost five of their past six. Jake Allen made 32 saves.

Nicholas Robertson gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 8:56 of the first period, knocking in a loose puck in front of the net.

Hischier tied it at 14:25. He took a stretch pass from Mercer, split two Toronto defensemen and slipped a backhanded shot past Woll.

Mercer gave the Devils a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal at 5:17 of the second period. Woll made the initial save on a shot from Hischier, but Mercer extended his stick and slid the rebound behind Woll.

Bertuzzi evened things at the 15:00 mark, converting a cross-ice pass from Max Domi on the rush.

Mark Giordano gave the Maple Leafs a 3-2 advantage nine seconds later when he blasted a high wrist shot past Allen from the left point.

Matthews made it 4-2 at 7:33 of the third when he received a pass from Domi in the right circle and scored on a wrister.

Bertuzzi scored into an empty net at 18:47 for the 5-2 final.

Devils forward Jack Hughes did not play and will be out for the rest of the season because of shoulder surgery. Hughes is second on the Devils with 74 points and has a team-high-tying 27 goals in 62 games this season.

—Field Level Media

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