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Hello again, Devils.

After a back to back home and away against the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils, the Leafs are now in game two of a home and away against the Devils. The schedulers had fun this week.

The big question tonight was how many goals would Auston Matthews score? He hit 66 on Tuesday. Can he keep the run to 70 going?

We get a goal off the opening faceoff, but it's not one we were looking for. Bobby McMann feeds the puck to John Tavares, who scores his 25th of the season from his knees to put the Leafs up nice and early.

1-0 Toronto.

Seconds later, the Devils get one of their own after a bad clearing attempt gets the puck right on Erik Haula's stick, and he gets it past Samsonov.

1-1 tie.

We get some hockey played for a few minutes, both teams taking shots, getting rushes, but the goalies are making saves. Until the man on a mission gets the puck from Max Domi, who prevents a puck leaving the zone, and knocks in his 67th goal of the season.

2-1 Maple Leafs. Auston Matthews is now 3rd all time in Maple Leafs goals scored (366), passing Dave Keon (365). When Auston Matthews played his fist game at home in Toronto, Dave Keon had his jersey number retired, after being named the greatest Leaf of all time.

Another give away, leads to another Devils goal. Giordano with a great tape to tape stick pass to Nolan Foote, and the game gets tied.

2-2 all.

It looks ike Nick Robertson barely hangs his foot onto the blueline as the puck is taken into the Devils zone, but he gets in and is able to capitalize on the rush and scores to make it 3-2.

However! It turns out, on a coaches challenge, Robertson was a couple inches over the blueline. No goal. Game still tied.

The New Jersey Devils get the first powerplay of the game, after Max Domi is called for slashing Luke Hughes. The Devils were 1/2 last game, scoring on their first shot of their first powerplay.

It didn't happen right away, but Dawson Mercer screened Samsonov expertly, and Timo Meier scores in the first minute of the powerplay, and New Jersey takes the lead.

3-2 Devils.

Tyler Bertuzzi draws the catch-up call, and gets Simon Nemec called for hooking. William Nylander gets in the Devils zone in a one on two with space, but Jake Allen makes the save.

No power play goal this time, but the Leafs don't give up, and pin the Devils in their end even after the man advantage ends. They're getting shots on net, but can't tie the game.

It was a good first period for the forwards, with six goals being scored (even if one didn't count), but the goalies let in three each - and the Devils only had seven shots. Leafs defenders were giving up the puck too much. Lots to discuss in the dressing room.

During a TV time out, the Maple Leafs paid tribute to late prospect Rodion Amirov, as his family visits Toronto for the first time.

The second period begins with the Leafs on the offense, putting pressure on Allen and Matthews is working to get at least one more goal this game. Also, to tie things up, which is also important.

Nick Robertson comes close to scoring five hole, but Allen closes things up quick, William Nylander is also in the almost scored club, as he looks for four more points to hit 100 this season.

The Leafs 2/25 powerplay gets another chance when Graeme Clarke hooks Pontus Holmberg. It's nice to see everyone working hard, but it's now a 2/26 powerplay.

John Tavares is having himself a good game, he sets up Nylander in front of the net, but the shot just goes wide. The Leafs keep on pushing to tie the game, with Domi-Matthews-Bertuzzi coming in hot, Domi rebounds a pass off the boards to Bertuzzi, who sends it back to Domi, who shoots and boink! a deflection off Matthews, and into the net.

Game is tied at threes.

Then, just as the announcement ends for the Matthews goals, David Kämpf makes a nifty little play in front of the net to give the Leafs the lead.

4-3 Toronto. Kämpf has now passed his goal total from last season with his eight goal.

Simon Nemec gets handsy with Auston Matthews, knocks the stick out of his hands and Max Domi isn't having it. He throws a few on Nemec and then gets the extra instigator minor and a 10 minute misconduct. Rest up for the third, Max.

As the second period comes to an end, TJ Brodie is called for hooking Jesper Bratt, giving the Devils another chance to score on the powerplay. And they do! Timo Meier scores top corner off the faceoff to tie the game.

Fours for everyone at the end of the second.

The third period is being played safe by both sides, nothing highlight worthy, shots, blocks, hits, but no one is being daring, lest they give up the next goal.

Samsonov is still getting the least amount of work of either goalie, but is staying on top of things after being unprepared for a few bad giveaways by the team earlier on.

Auston Matthews goes to reach for the puck, but catches Luke Hughes' skate instead, sending him to the ice and himself to the box for two minutes.

The Maple Leafs penalty kill was over 92% successful before tonight, where they gave up two powerplay goals to Timo Meier on two penalties. Cover him guys!

The do, but Jesper Bratt is the one to get the powerplay goal this time. Perfect three for three tonight.

5-4 Devils with eight to go.

Matthews, Domi, and company put a lot of pucks on net and pressure in the Devils zone, forcing Allen to dive around the net as they pass and shoot and pass and shoot, but somehow Allen makes the necessary saves.

The Leafs do not stop, the entire arena is chanting "GO LEAFS GO" and John Tavares feeds off the energy, gets a quick pass from Morgan Rielly, and the Captain has his second of the night.

Tied at fived with under five left.

Bobby McMann comes in alone chasing the puck, looking like he's going to pot the winner, but Jake Allen rushes out of the net and plays the puck off the glass to save the day for the Devils.

The Tavares line keeps on beating up on Allen, with Nylander providing big passes, and Tavares getting the shots off, but they all keep hitting Allen.

Jesper Bratt is the villain of the game, getting around Joel Edmunson, shooting through a small gap, and up and over Samsonov it goes for his third point of the game.

6-5 Devils, 1:14 to go, Leafs call a time out.

Samsonov gets pulled as soon as the Leafs enter the Devils zone, and then Ondrej Palat gets called for a minor and we have a six on four powerplay for 45 seconds.

The fans are on their feet, screaming, as the Leafs pass around the zone, but they still can't score on the powerplay. Game over.

Final score: New Jersey Devils 6 - Toronto Maple Leafs 5

A sloppy defensive game for the Leafs early on forces them to play catch up, but they can't contain the opponents like they should. Samsonov gives up six goals on 21 shots. Unacceptable. Too many giveaways.

The forwards? Damn that was fun watching them. The loss is disappointing, but they have a playoff spot locked in, won't catch the Panthers for home ice, so let's get Auston to 70.

Three games to go. Next up is the final home game of the season, the Detroit Red Wings come to town. Let's set records at home before a final trip to Florida.

See you Saturday at seven.

Go Leafs Go!

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