TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (20-14-4 – 44 Points) vs.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS (12-19-5 – 29 Points)
DECEMBER 27, 2019 ▪ 7:00 PM EST
PRUDENTIAL CENTER (NEWARK, NJ) ▪
TV: SPORTSNET ONTARIO ▪ RADIO: TSN 1050
MAPLE LEAFS HISTORY versus NEW JERSEY
| ALL-TIME RECORD: | 73-41-20-9 (143 Games) |
| ALL-TIME ON THE ROAD: | 26-24-15-5 (70 Games) |
| 2018-19: | 3-0-0 |
| LAST FIVE: | 4-1-0 |
| LAST 10: | 6-3-1 |
MAPLE LEAFS CAREER LEADERS versus NEW JERSEY
| GAMES PLAYED: | Jason Spezza (40), John Tavares (40), Morgan Rielly (18) |
| GOALS: | John Tavares (17), Jason Spezza (8), Auston Matthews (5) |
| ASSISTS: | Jason Spezza (26), John Tavares (14), Auston Matthews (5), Morgan Rielly (5) |
| POINTS: | Jason Spezza (34), John Tavares (31), Auston Matthews (10) |
| PENALTY MINUTES: | Jason Spezza (18), John Tavares (16), William Nylander (8), Morgan Rielly (8) |
MAPLE LEAFS – DEVILS TEAM STATS
| TORONTO | NEW JERSEY | |
| GOALS FOR (Rank): | 132 (3rd) | 90 (30th) |
| GOALS AGAINST (Rank): | 120 (23rd) | 124 (28th) |
| POWER PLAY [%] (Rank): | 23/103 [22.3%] (9th) | 17/130 [13.0%] (t-29th) |
| PENALTY KILL [%] (Rank): | 86/113 [76.1%] (26th) | 100/124 [80.6%] (16th) |
| SHOTS (Rank): | 1271 (4th) | 1108 (25th) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPTS FOR (Rank): | 1935 (2nd) | 1443 (30th) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % (Rank): | 52.7% (5th) | 46.9% (28th) |
| FACEOFF % (Rank): | 52.2% (4th) | 46.3% (30th) |
MAPLE LEAFS – DEVILS NOTES
| FIRST MATCHUP BETWEEN CLUBS: | October 9, 1974 vs. Kansas City (Toronto 6, Kansas City 2) |
| ALL-TIME RECORD: | 73-41-20-9 (143 Games) |
| ALL-TIME RECORD AT HOME: | 47-17-5-3 (73 Games) |
| ALL-TIME RECORD ON THE ROAD: | 26-24-15-5 (70 Games) |
| LAST WIN VS. OPPONENT AT HOME: | January 10, 2019 (Toronto 4, New Jersey 2) |
MAPLE LEAFS MILESTONES vs. DEVILS
| Alex Kerfoot | Selected by New Jersey in the fifth round (150th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. |
| William Nylander | 200th NHL game (Jan. 10, 2019 at NJD) |
| John Tavares | 300th NHL goal (Jan. 10, 2019 at NJD) |
MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS
| CATEGORY | LEADER |
| GOALS | 24 (Matthews) |
| ASSISTS | 25 (Marner) |
| POINTS | 43 (Matthews) |
| POWER PLAY POINTS | 12 (Marner, Matthews) |
| SHORTHANDED POINTS | 2 (Engvall, Kapanen) |
| PIMs | 32 (Muzzin) |
| SHOTS | 136 (Matthews) |
| FACEOFF WIN% | 58.8% (Gauthier) |
| 5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % | 55.7% (Matthews) |
| BLOCKED SHOTS | 66 (Muzzin) |
| TAKEAWAYS | 41 (Marner) |
| HITS | 86 (Muzzin) |
| TOI PER GAME | 24:22 (Rielly) |
| PP TOI PER GAME | 2:57 (Marner) |
| SH TOI PER GAME | 3:08 (Ceci) |
MAPLE LEAFS PLAYER NOTES
| Frederik Andersen | – Is 10-4-0 on the road this season with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. – Has made eight career appearances against the Devils and is 6-2-0 with a 1.87 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage.- Leads the NHL in wins (19).- Leads the NHL in saves (857) and ranks second in even-strength saves (719).- Fourth in the NHL in shootout saves (11). |
| Tyson Barrie | – Averaging 14.3 shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time, which is the fifth-highest average among NHL defencemen who have appeared in 30 games. – Has been on the ice for the eighth-most shot attempts for (731) among NHL skaters. – Has an on-ice shot attempt differential of plus-124, which is 10th among NHL defencemen. |
| Cody Ceci | – Has an on-ice goal differential of plus-seven at even-strength, which is tied for the third highest even-strength goal differential among Toronto skaters.- 11th among NHL skaters in shorthanded time on ice (119:00).- Has played 62.1 percent of Toronto’s shorthanded ice time, which is tied for the 10th-highest shorthanded time on ice percentage among NHLers who have appeared in at least 30 games. |
| Justin Holl | – Has started 44.3 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, which is the lowest mark among Toronto defencemen who have appeared in at least 10 games.- Has an unblocked shot attempt percentage of 53.3 percent at 5-on-5, which is tied for the highest percentage among Toronto defencemen who have appeared in at least 10 games. |
| Michael Hutchinson | – Second among NHL goaltenders who have appeared in 10 or fewer games in saves (226). |
| Zach Hyman | – Established a new single-game career-high for assists (3) on December 23 vs. Carolina, which also tied his career-high for points in a game. – Has a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 54.2 percent, which ranks seventh among Toronto skaters who have played 10 games. – Averaging 15:33 per game in even-strength ice time, which ranks seventh among Maple Leafs. |
| Kasperi Kapanen | – Tied for seventh among Toronto skaters in even-strength points (6-8-14).- Has played 35.3 percent of the Maple Leafs’ shorthanded ice time, which ranks fourth among Toronto forwards. |
| Alex Kerfoot | – Eighth among Toronto skaters in even-strength goals (5).- Lone Toronto forward to have recorded at least 20 hits (28) and 20 blocked shots (24) this season. |
| Mitch Marner | – Averaging 0.56 primary assists per game, which is ninth among NHLers who have appeared in at least 20 games.- Tied for 14th in the NHL in primary assists (15). – Second in the NHL in takeaways (41). Averages 4.45 takeaways per 60 minutes of ice time, which ranks second among NHLers who have skated in at least 20 games.- Ninth among NHL forwards in shifts per game (25.5). |
| Auston Matthews | – Tied for second among NHL skaters in goals (24).- Tied for the lead among NHL skaters in even-strength goals (18).- Tied for 10th among NHL skaters in even-strength points (18-13-31).- 10th in the NHL with 136 shots on goal.- Has an on-ice goals-for percentage of 63.9 percent at 5-on-5, which leads Toronto skaters. |
| Ilya Mikheyev | – Averaging 8.9 shots on goal per 60 minutes of shorthanded ice time, which is the fourth-highest average among NHLers who have played at least 60 shorthanded minutes.- Leads all NHL rookies in shorthanded ice time (74:07).- Leads NHL rookies and is tied for third among Maple Leafs in even-strength points (6-15-21). |
| Jake Muzzin | – Has drawn 12 penalties this season, which leads Toronto defencemen and is tied for fourth among NHL defencemen.- Averages 0:47 in ice time per shift, which is tied for the fourth-lowest average shift length among defencemen who average at least 21:00 per game in ice time. |
| William Nylander | – Has recorded nine primary assists, which is tied for fourth among Toronto skaters. – Averages 1.09 goals per 60 minutes of ice time, which ranks second among Toronto skaters.- Has recorded six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in nine career games against New Jersey. |
| Morgan Rielly | – Tied for 17th among NHL defencemen in points (3-21-24).- Tied for eighth among NHL defencemen in even-strength points (3-15-18).- Fourth among NHL defencemen in assists recorded at 5-on-5 (14).- 14th among NHL skaters in TOI per game (24:22).- Tied for 11th among NHL skaters in shifts per game (28.4). |
| Jason Spezza | – Averaging 2.55 points per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 this season, which is the second-highest average among Toronto skaters.- Averaging 1.27 primary assists per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time in 2019-20, which leads the Maple Leafs and is the ninth-highest average among NHLers who have appeared in at least 25 games. |
| John Tavares | – Has 31 points (17 goals, 14 assists) in 40 career games against New Jersey, which is the sixth-highest point total against the Devils since 2009-10.- Averaging 17.03 shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which is the fourth-highest average among NHL centres who have appeared in 20 games.- Averaging 8.95 shots on goal at 5-on-5 per 60 minutes of ice time, which ranks 14th among NHL centres who have appeared in 20 games.- Has a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 54.8 percent, which ranks third among Toronto skaters who have appeared in at least 20 games. |
CURRENT POINT STREAKS
| Zach Hyman | Has assists (4) and points (2-4-6) in two consecutive games. |
| Mitch Marner | Has assists (5) in two consecutive games and points (6-11-17) in eight consecutive games. |
| Auston Matthews | Has goals (3) in two consecutive games, assists (4) in three consecutive games and points (5-4-9) in four consecutive games. |
| John Tavares | Has assists (3) and points (1-3-4) in two consecutive games. |
UPCOMING MILESTONES
| Frederik Andersen | 23 minutes from 20,000 career minutes |
| Alex Kerfoot | Two points from 100 NHL points |
RECENT MILESTONES
| None | |
INJURY REPORT
| Andreas Johnsson (Leg) | On injured reserve. |
| Trevor Moore | Did not play on December 23 vs. Carolina |
| Man Games Lost: 77 |
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
| December 23 | Loaned forward Jeremy Bracco to the Toronto Marlies (AHL). |
| December 23 | Recalled forward Jeremy Bracco from the Toronto Marlies (AHL). |
| December 21 | Loaned forward Adam Brooks and defenceman Martin Marincin to the Toronto Marlies (AHL). Activated forward Trevor Moore from the injured reserve. |
DEVILS NOTES
LAST GAME @ CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS The Devils defeated the Blackhawks, 7-1, in the second and final contest of the 2019-20 regular season series. New Jersey finishes 1- 0-1 (3PT) against Chicago this season. New Jersey improves to 2-4-2 (2-3-0 road) against Central Division rivals this season. The Devils are 3-1-1 at United Center and 6-1-3 overall against the Blackhawks since the 2015-16 season. New Jersey was 7-7 on the penalty kill tonight, and 0-3 on the power play. The Devils were 27-56 (48%) in face-offs in the contest. The club notched five goals in the second period tonight, the most the club has tallied in one period this season. 14 different Devils tallied at least one point in the contest, marking a season high. The club tallied 29 PIM in the tilt, marking a season high (prev. 23 vs VAN; 10/19). The Devils six goals tonight is the 11th time in franchise history they have tallied six or more goals vs Chicago. New Jersey has scored at least six goals in a game vs Chicago in now three consecutive seasons(7-5 NJ; 8-5 NJ; 7-1 NJ) (credit: Craig Seiden, NJD Radio). Jack Hughes opened the scoring for the Devils 14:46 into the first period assisted by Wayne Simmonds and Sami Vatanen. The tuck marks Hughes’ first since Nov. 7 @ CGY (18 GP). Simmonds helper marks his first point in seven games (1A; 12/13 @ COL). Vatanen extends his assist streak to two games (2A). P.K. Subban notched his third goal of the season and the game-winner for the Devils, 0:51 into the second frame assisted by Jesper Bratt and Kyle Palmier. The goal gives Subban his first goal since Nov. 2 @ CAR (23 GP). Damon Severson tallied the Devils third goal of the contest in the second period assisted by Travis Zajac and Nikita Gusev. John Hayden tallied his first goal of his 2019-20 campaign, 10:40 into the second frame. The goal was assisted by Will Butcher and Pavel Zacha. Travis Zajac tallied the Devils second short handed goal of the season assisted by Blake Coleman and Andy Greene. With his shorthanded goal, Zajac has scored at least one short handed goal in six consecutive seasons for the Devils, joining Patrik Elias as the only other Devils to accomplish the feat (credit: Leo Scaglione Jr, NY Hockey Journal). Zajac is now one point from tying Kirk Muller for third place on the Devils all-time points list, and three goals to tie Zach Parise four fourth place on the Devils all-time goals list. Greene’s helper ends a 23 game pointless streak (11/2 @ CAR; 1A). Blake Coleman tallied his 11th goal of the season, 18 seconds into the third frame. The goal marks a new season high for fastest to start a period (prev. T. Hall @ PIT; 0:31). Severson and Gusev, giving each their second multi-point game of the season, assisted Coleman’s goal. Zacha notched the Devils seventh and final goal of the contest assisted by Gusev and Severson. The helper gives Gusev his first NHL career three-point game. Mackenzie Blackwood got the start for his 24th this season. Blackwood stopped 32 of 33 shots faced, and improves to 11-10-4 this season.
TONIGHT’S GAME vs. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS Tonight marks the first of three contest between New Jersey and Toronto. The Maple Leafs swept the Devils in the 2018-19 regular season series (3-0-0; 6PTS). New Jersey was 8-8 on the penalty kill tonight, and 0-8 on the power play in the three games played. Toronto outscored New Jersey 17-5. Blake Coleman (1G-1A) led New Jersey in scoring tallying two points in three games played. Kyle Palmieri and Miles Wood led their squad in shots tallying 11. Andy Greene will suit up for the 40th time against the Maple Leafs. The blueliner has tallied 12 assists against Toronto through 39 games played. New Jersey Devils: Media Notes Mackenzie Blackwood saw 20 minutes of action in the regular season series, allowing two goals posting a 6.00 GAA. Ron Hainsey (4A) and Morgan Rielly (2G-2A) notched four points against New Jersey in three games played last season. Rielly and Mitch Marner led their club in goals in the regular season series with two each. Frederik Anderson saw 120 minutes of action against the Devils, allowing three goals posting a 1.50 GAA. Anderson went 2-0-0 in the regular season series. Michael Hutchinson played in one game against New Jersey allowing two goals and picking up the victory. The Devils are 4-3-0 at Prudential Center and 5-5-2 overall against the Maple Leafs since the 2015-16 season. INJURIES Matt Tennyson (I.R.) – 8 games missed; Upper-body injury sustained Dec. 3 Louis Domingue (I.R.) – 5 games missed; Lower-body injury sustained Dec. 13 Total Man-Games Lost to Injury: 64
HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER The New Jersey Devils will support the National Hockey League’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer initiative on Saturday, Nov. 23, when the team faces off against the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. EST. Local 11-Year Old Brain tumor Survivor Serves as Guest of honor The team will honor eleven-year old Grace Eline, a Morris County brain tumor survivor. Through the Devils partnership with RWJBarnabas Health, Grace joined the team for practice on Monday, worked on some drills and met the guys. On Saturday, she will be the guest of honor, read the starting lineup, and drop the puck on the ceremonial puck drop. Grace was treated at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabs Health facility, and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Grace has achieved N.E.D. status meaning there is no evidence of disease. RWJBarnabas Health is the Official Healthcare Provider of the New Jersey Devils. Celebrating the Survivors As part of the “I Fight For” placard unveiling, the Devils have brought back three of their recent honorees from previous HFC games – Quinn Knapp and Santino Anastasia. Supporting a Regional Medical Center Fundraising efforts throughout the game will help to renovate the Clara Maass Medical Center Infusion Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility. In partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Clara Maass Medical Center and RWJBarnabas Health provide patients access to the most advanced treatment options close to home. The Cancer Center at Clara Maas Medical Center continues to receive the prestigious accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer as a community hospital comprehensive cancer program. Lavender Warm-Up Jerseys and Players Sticks Auctioned for Charity: Lavender players jerseys worn during warm-ups, and sticks adorned with lavender tape, will be auctioned off through December 7 online at newjerseydevils.com/auction. All proceeds from the auction, as well as the game’s 50/50 raffle, will go towards the Clara Maass Medical Center Infusion Center renovation.
The view from left field 