Toronto Maple Leafs Edge New Jersey Devils 4-2 in NHL Opener

The Toronto Maple Leafs triumphed over the New Jersey Devils 4-2 in their opening NHL game, with goalie Dennis Hildeby achieving his first win and Steven Lorentz contributing a goal and an assist. The Maple Leafs' strong defensive performance, led by Hildeby who stopped 22 shots, was a key factor in their victory. The Devils, who were on a high after sweeping the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Global Series, struggled to capitalize on their power plays, managing just one goal from five opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

• Steven Lorentz had a goal and an assist in the Maple Leafs' 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.
• Dennis Hildeby won his first NHL game, stopping 22 shots in his debut.
• The Maple Leafs' defense blocked 27 shots, with each of the six defensemen blocking at least one shot.
• The Devils were ineffective on five power plays, scoring just one goal.
• The Maple Leafs have won eight consecutive road games against the Devils, dating back to Dec. 18, 2018.
• The Devils lost their home debut under coach Sheldon Keefe, who was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in May.
• The Maple Leafs' 1-0 loss at Montreal on Wednesday ended their 252-game run (including playoffs) of scoring at least one goal, the third-longest streak in NHL history.
• Jacob Markstrom made 18 saves for the Devils.
• The Devils' coach, Sheldon Keefe, was let go by the Toronto Maple Leafs in May and replaced Lindy Ruff near the end of the last regular season.

Statistics:

• 4-2: The final score of the game.
• 22: The number of shots stopped by goalie Dennis Hildeby.
• 27: The number of shots blocked by the Maple Leafs' defense.
• 252: The number of games the Maple Leafs played without scoring less than one goal, before their 1-0 loss at Montreal.
• 8: The number of consecutive road wins against the Devils, the Maple Leafs have achieved.
• 18: The number of saves made by Jacob Markstrom.

Sources:

• AP (Associated Press). (2024). Toronto Maple Leafs beat New Jersey Devils 4-2.