Auston Matthews returned after missing nine games due to an upper-back injury. The Toronto Maple Leafs star is still not quite back game-breaking self. The Toronto Maple Leafs secured their fifth road win of the season, scratching and clawing their way to a 2-1 overtime victory over the New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/] on Tuesday. Despite being outshot 39-16 – a season-low in shots for Toronto – the Leafs leaned on the brilliance of goaltender Anthony Stolarz to extend their remarkable dominance in New Jersey. The win marked their ninth consecutive road victory over the Devils and second this season. However, the club came out flat, overwhelmed by the Devils’ aggressive forecheck from the moment the puck dropped. “They came hard,” defenseman Chris Tanev said post-game. “They pressured us well. Obviously, we didn't forecheck well. We didn't make plays, so that's what's going to happen when the team's moving quicker than you and playing with more pace.” Stolarz, who got the nod in his home state of New Jersey, stopped 38 of 39 shots for an impressive .974 save percentage and .097 goals-against average, keeping the Leafs afloat through two sluggish periods down only a goal. The Devils dominated early, outshooting the Leafs 15-1 in the first period – a league-low for any team in the opening frame this season. Through 40 minutes, the Leafs were outshot 27-6. “Yeah, it gives us confidence. Obviously, a better third for us, but the first two were god-awful. Thankfully, he made a key number of saves that allowed us to keep it 1-0,” said Tanev. “They came out, I think the first shift had like four or five shots on that. So they came out ready to play and we just seemed a little bit flat,” added captain Auston Matthews. Despite their poor start, the Leafs managed to regroup during the second intermission. Matthews emphasized the team’s mindset heading into the final frame was that the club was only one shot away from tying the game, even with their slow start on the road. “I think that was sort of the message after the second, how bad we have played thus far, and it's still only 1-0. One shot can change the whole thing,” Matthews explained. “We stuck with it. Stolie made some big saves. Only a 1-0 game going in the third. I think the mindset was to get our feet moving a little bit more and try to generate some more offense toward the net, some more shots toward the net. And we did, and we were able to get that one and force over time and try to close it out,” he added. The Leafs found mesh for the first time midway through the final frame as Pontus Holmberg broke through with his second of the season before Matthews sealed the deal in overtime on one of his many breakaway chances on Tuesday night. After his goal in the extra period of play, Matthews now has 29 points (19G, 10A) against the Devils – helping lift Toronto to 17-9-2 on the season. While the heroics of Stolarz stole the spotlight, the Leafs’ recent offensive slump remains a priority to fix. They’ve scored just five goals in their last three games, with head coach Craig Berube emphasizing more secondary scoring as a necessity going forward. Speaking on the mental lapses and slow start that plagued the team in the opening two periods, Berube admits he’s unsure how to describe the lack of urgency and aggressiveness. “First two periods, I mean, they had the puck, and we didn't get it from them,” Berube said, before attempting to explain the leisurely start when saying, “I don't know, that's a good question. I wish I knew. I mean, it happens. 82 games, you're gonna have flat nights. It was one of them for sure.” Despite the early struggles, the bench boss remained focused on the positive outcome, recognizing that while the performance wasn’t ideal, the team still managed to secure the two points. Rather than dwelling on the rough start, he stressed the importance of the result. “It's one of those games. I mean, I'm not really gonna read into it too much. I'm not gonna talk about it too much. Our goalie was excellent. We found a way to get two points. That's all that matters," Berube said. The Leafs will look to turn the page, take the two points, and return to Scotiabank Arena for a meeting with the Anaheim Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/] on Thursday – keen on starting that game on time.
