The Toronto Maple Leafs entered New Jersey tonight to try and continue their winning streak against a struggling Devils team.
The Toronto Maple Leafs came into this game on a five game winning streak, and winners of seven of their last eight.
Looking to continue their streak to six straight games with back up Michael Hutchinson in net and red hot Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, they did just that.
Tavares and Nylander both had incredible offensive games, and Marner and Matthews both had quiet ones.
There was also a very scary moment in this Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils game and Ilya Mikheyev gets injured.
Not Scoring First For The First Time In 8 Games
The Toronto Maple Leafs have really improved their first periods under Sheldon Keefe and not just their first period in total, they also have been scoring first for the majority of their games under Keefe.
Yet, tonight was a different story it kind of felt more of a back and forth game between the Maple Leafs and the Devils.
The Toronto Maple Leafs give up the first goal of the game for the first time since December 4th against the Colorado Avalanche in their 3-1 loss.
Since then until last night, the Maple Leafs have scored first in eight straight games except against the Devils as they cant get the puck out of their zone and Nico Hischier rips one post and in on Michael Hutchinson.
Despite the Toronto Maple Leafs giving up the first goal for the first time in awhile, they bounced back and played a strong remaining first period as they pot home yet another power play goal and lead the Devils at the end of the first period 2-1, out shooting them 19-9. (Stats from thescore.com)
Tavares & Nylander Shine In New Jersey
With Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews on an insane point streak entering last nights game, it was time for two other players to continue their hot streak.
John Tavares and William Nylander both finish the game with three points, with Nylander picking up the OT winnger.
Tavares continuing where he left off in the Carolina game putting up three points in the games first six minutes, he puts up another three points, (1G 2A) in last nights 5-4 OT win.
William Nylander putting up the same stat line (1G 2A) he now has 8 points in his last 5 games.
Tavares puts home the power play goal to tie the game at 4 in the third, and Nylander finishes it off in overtime as he is stripped of the puck by Jack Hughes, but steals it back at the boards.
He makes a nice. move but couldn’t finish it off and It is picked off but Damon Severson of the Devils back hands it into his own net. You drive the net, you get rewarded.
Talk about a weird way to end a back and forth game. (Stats from thescore.com)
Hutchinson Grabs Back To Back Wins
Michael Hutchinson grabbed his first win of the 2019-20 season last Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings and he brought that confidence over to New Jersey as he grabbed his second win of the season in back to back fashion.
Despite Hutchinson giving up 4 goals in yet another game this season, not all the goals were simply his fault.
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to make sloppy mistakes in their zone and the neutral zone resulting in the opponent to score either on a breakaway, a 2 on 1, or simply just a defensive breakdown in their zone with no one is marking their man.
Scary Moment For the Toronto Maple Leafs
During the third period, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ilya Mikheyev got cut on his wrist by an opponents skate.
He immediately finished the play with passing it to his teammate dropped his glove and saw what had happened to him, he rushed to the bench leaving a trail of blood on the ice form the spot it happened all the way to the bench as he went down the tunnel to the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room, and soon later rushed to the hospital.
As per Luke Fox, Ilya Mikheyev stayed the night in a New Jersey hospital while the team travels back to Toronto.
Mikheyev spending the night in Jersey hospital while team travels back to Toronto.
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) December 28, 2019
As well more news broke this morning of Ilya Mikheyev, as he will miss a minimum of 3 months (90 days) with the laceration to his wrist.
Per Dan Milstein via Twitter, Mikheyev will miss at least three months.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are back in action tonight against the New York Rangers at home, looking to continue their winning ways.
With only 2 more games left in the 2019 calendar year, tonight’s matchup against the Rangers, and against the Minnesota Wild on New Years Eve.