McLeod scored his 25th NHL goal on the same play that Bastian earned his 25th career assist.
On Sunday night, the New Jersey Devils hosted the Anaheim Ducks at Prudential Center in front of 16,514 fans.
Late in the second period, the Devils were down 2-0. With 50 seconds remaining, Devils' defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler poke-checked the puck away from an opposing player just inside New Jersey's zone. Nathan Bastian gained possession and skated toward Anaheim's net. He moved the puck to Michael McLeod, who slid it to Curtis Lazar. The 28-year-old backhanded the puck back to McLeod, who shot it into the net for the Devils' lone goal of the night.
That goal would become the 25th of McLeod's NHL career. Interestingly enough, Bastian's secondary assist would be the 25th helper of his career and 50th NHL point.
As MSGN statistician Nick Cahill pointed out, 18 of Bastian's 50 points have involved longtime teammate McLeod.
Their fathers were both in attendance as the team's annual dad/mentors trip was held this past weekend. At the team's practice on Friday, the two sat next to each other in the stands, watching their sons take line rushes together on the ice. Something that must be familiar as the "Super Buddies" careers have been intertwined for years.
They were teammates on the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League for three seasons. McLeod was the captain of the Steelheads for the 2016-17 campaign, with Bastian serving as an alternate captain. The Devils eventually selected both players in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft with their first and second pick.
They made their respective NHL debuts during the 2018-19 season and have developed in the Devils organization together.
McLeod was on the Devils' bench when Bastian scored his first career NHL goal versus the Montreal Canadiens, and Bastian assisted on McLeod's first NHL goal versus the Philadelphia Flyers.
While they have different strengths, both have evolved into key role players for New Jersey. The two forwards were impactful in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs and continue to do the little things that may go unnoticed to the casual hockey fan, but make a difference to their teammates and coaches.