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by: Christina Winnegar
This article provides an objective analysis of the game and is authored by an independent writer not affiliated with the team or league
Photos by: Christina Winnegar
In one of the most highly anticipated games of the season for the New Jersey Devils, with new head coach Sheldon Keefe facing his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, for their 2024-25 season home opener, the Devils fell short. The Maple Leafs secured the win with a final score of 4-2.
The Devils, who previously swept the Global Series games in Prague with a combined 7-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres, couldn’t keep up in this matchup, with 16,764 fans in attendance (NHL.com). The Maple Leafs, recovering after their season-opening 1-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, debuted Dennis Hildeby in net Thursday night in New Jersey.
Photos by: Christina Winnegar
First Period Recap
The Maple Leafs took control in the first period. Max Pacioretty opened the scoring at 8:18, assisted by Pontus Holmberg and Conor Timmins. Bobby McMann followed with a sharp-angle goal at 11:29, assisted by Jake McCabe and Steven Lorentz. At 14:46, Steven Lorentz backhanded another goal past Jacob Markstrom, assisted by David Kämpf. Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils on a power play at 19:18, ripping the puck from the high slot to get the Devils on the board. Bratt’s goal was unassisted (NHL.com).
The Maple Leafs led shots on goal in the first period 11-9 (ESPN).
Photos by: Christina Winnegar
Second Period Recap
Penalties marked the second period, with the Devils failing to capitalize on multiple power plays. The Leafs' John Tavares scored a wrist-shot at 14:52, assisted by Max Domi and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Devils responded late, at 19:54, when Timo Meier scored on a flick shot to the top left corner of the net, assisted by Jonathan Kovacevic and Brenden Dillon.
Toronto had seven shots on goal in the second period, while New Jersey managed eight (ESPN).
Photos by: Christina Winnegar
Third Period Recap
Despite additional power-play opportunities, neither team managed to score in the third period. The Devils pulled two power-play opportunities but couldn’t convert, and the Leafs also failed to score on their power play. Total shots in the third period were four for Toronto and seven for New Jersey (NHL.com).
Key Performances
Toronto goaltender Dennis Hildeby secured his first NHL win, stopping 22 out of 24 shots with a save percentage of .917. Hildeby, Toronto’s fourth-round draft pick in 2022, impressed in his NHL debut (NHL.com).
Photos by: Christina Winnegar
Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom, previously acquired from the Calgary Flames, saved 18 out of 22 shots, finishing the night with a .818 save percentage (ESPN).
Key Takeaways
The Maple Leafs’ defense was instrumental in the win, blocking 27 shots in front of Hildeby. At least one shot from the Devils was blocked by each of the six Leafs defensemen (NHL.com).
The Devils struggled to convert on the power play, scoring only once on five opportunities, while Toronto failed to capitalize on either of their two power-play chances (ESPN).
With the win, the Maple Leafs have now won eight straight road games against the Devils, dating back to December 18, 2018, making it the longest active road winning streak against a single opponent (ESPN).
Photos by: Christina Winnegar
Sources and Verification:
To ensure the accuracy and depth of our coverage, this article draws from trusted sources such as NHL.com and ESPN. These platforms provide official game statistics, player insights, and up-to-date reports, enabling us to deliver well-rounded and factual information. By leveraging these reliable sources, we aim to offer a detailed and verified account of the New Jersey Devils’ home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs, including key moments, standout performances, and post-game analysis.
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