Devils close season series with Toronto | Preview

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DEVILS (37-37-5) vs. MAPLE LEAFS (46-23-9)

Head-ba

The Devils and Maple Leafs will meet for the last time this season. In the first match, the Devils beat the Leafs 6-3 in Toronto. In their last meeting at the Prudential Center, Toronto won 5-2.

Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes have scored twice this season against the Maple Leafs, while Luke Hughes, Dawson Mercer, Timo Meyer and Max Willman have scored once this season.

Devils Team Range:

As the Devils enter the final three games of the 2023-24 season, they are looking to snap a two-game losing streak after losing 5-2 to the Maple Leafs two nights ago. The Maple Leafs took a 1-0 lead in this matchup; however, goals by Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer gave the Devils a 2-1 lead early in the second period. Toronto would score four unanswered goals, including two by Tyler Bertuzzi, to win the game. The loss eliminated the Devils from playoff contention.

There were some changes to the lineup this week as Jack Hughes underwent shoulder surgery on Wednesday and missed Tuesday night's game. The forward is expected to return during the Devils' training camp in the fall of 2024. Nolan Foote and John Marino returned from injuries in Tuesday night's game. The Devils also recalled Graeme Clarke from the Utica Comets ahead of their two-game road trip on Wednesday.

Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes lead the team with 27 goals. Hughes is second on the Devils in scoring with 47 assists and 74 points in 62 games this season. Hischier is third in assists (38) and points (65). Jesper Bratt leads the Devils in assists (54) and points (79).

Jake Allen continues to play significant minutes for the Devils and has played 11 games for New Jersey thus far. With a 5-5-1 record, he has a 2.86 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. Kaapo Kahkonen was injured in the Devils' game against the Nashville Predators and the team called up Utica's Akira Schmidt to return Tuesday night. However, Schmid was reassigned to the Comets on Wednesday afternoon.

After the game against the Maple Leafs, the Devils will travel to Philadelphia to face the Flyers for their final road game of the season in New Jersey. The Devils will host the New York Islanders in the season finale on Monday, April 15. This game will be Jersey Appreciation Night presented by MSG. More details are available here.

Maple Leaf Group Range:

The Maple Leafs will look to keep things going as they ride a three-game winning streak and have won seven of their last 10 games. In addition to beating the Devils on Tuesday night, the Maple Leafs picked up a 3-2 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday and a 4-2 victory in Montreal on Saturday. Toronto has just four games left in the regular season and is already in the playoffs. They are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division.

Auston Matthews leads the Maple Leafs with 66 goals and 104 points, while his 38 assists are fourth on the team. William Nylander's 56 assists are a team record, while his 40 goals and 96 points are second. Mitch Marner is third on the Lifters with 25 goals and 79 points, and his 54 assists are second on the team. The Maple Leafs turned to Joseph Wall for the previous two meetings between these clubs. He stopped 19 of 24 shots he faced in the first game and 18 of 20 in the second.

After the game against the Devils, the Maple Leafs have one more regular season home game as they host the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. Toronto then heads south to close out the season against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

By numbers:

Dawson Mercer's 20th goal of the season on Tuesday night made him the fifth Devils player to score 20 or more goals this season. He joins Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Timo Mayer and Jesper Bratt in this category.

Defenseman Brendan Smith recorded his 100th career assist in his 691st game. Smith has had some success in recent contests, as he has five points in his last four games, including his first three-point night against the Ottawa Senators on April 6.

Auston Matthews is unstoppable. The forward scored his 66th goal of the season against the Devils on Tuesday, extending his goal streak to six games (7G). With this mark, he became the first active player to score 65 goals in a season, a record previously held by Alex Ovechkin (2007-08 season). Matthews is also the first player to score 66 or more goals since Mario Lemieux scored 69 for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.

Injuries:

Devils

Hamilton (torn pectoral muscle, LTIR)
Bastian (lower body, IR)
Kahkonen (lower body)
J. Hughes (shoulder)

Maple leaves

Edmundson (Unopened, Weekly)
Jarnkrok (manual, weekly)
Klingberg (hip, LTIR)
Liljegren (upper body, week-to-week)
Murray (hip, LTIR)
Muzzin (neck, LTIR)