Devils beat Maple Leafs 5-3 at ACC
Posted December 4, 2014 10:10 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mike Cammalleri and Eric Gelinas scored power-play goals as the New Jersey Devils defeated Toronto 5-3 on Thursday night at Air Canada Centre to end the Maple Leafs’ five-game point streak.
Stephen Gionta, Steve Bernier and Adam Henrique had the other goals for New Jersey (10-12-4).
Mike Santorelli, Nazem Kadri and Phil Kessel scored for the Maple Leafs (13-9-3), who hadn’t lost in regulation since a 9-2 rout to Nashville on Nov. 18.
Both teams looked sluggish at the start of the game. There were several missed passes and some choppy neutral-zone play — it took nearly four minutes for the first shot on goal to be recorded.
With Maple Leafs blue-liner Cody Franson off for interference, Gelinas scored his third goal of the season at 4:53. He fired a snapshot from the top of the faceoff circle that handcuffed Toronto netminder Jonathan Bernier.
The Devils kept the pressure on but Bernier was up to the task, making a pair of sliding pad saves to keep it a one-goal game.
Toronto’s first decent shift came midway through the first period as David Clarkson’s line provided some spark. Peter Holland had a couple of decent chances that Devils netminder Cory Schneider turned aside.
The Maple Leafs picked up the pace later in the frame. Santorelli had a great opportunity in front after a 3-on-2 rush but couldn’t get it past Schneider.
Toronto controlled the play early in the second period and was rewarded at 5:37. Santorelli tipped in a Joffrey Lupul floater from the high slot for his fourth goal of the season.
The Devils answered a few minutes later. Bernier controlled the puck behind the Toronto net and made a nice pass to Gionta in front, who scored his first goal at 8:00.
The Maple Leafs tied it while shorthanded when Kadri potted his own rebound at 11:14. It was his seventh goal of the season.
Cammalleri restored New Jersey’s lead at 16:48 with Lupul off after a boarding penalty. He scored his 11th goal by one-timing the puck after it hit the back boards and came out by the side of the net.
In the third period, Bernier gave the Devils a two-goal cushion at 6:12 with his second goal of the season. Henrique added an insurance goal, his seventh on the campaign, at 11:58.
Tuomo Ruutu took a tripping penalty at 17:56 and the Maple Leafs pulled Bernier for an extra attacker. Kessel potted his 13th goal at 19:25 after a scramble in front of the net.
Notes: The Maple Leafs continue their five-game homestand Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks. The Devils return home Saturday to play the Washington Capitals. … New Jersey forward Jaromir Jagr and defenceman Adam Larsson were scratched due to flu-like symptoms. Devils forward Patrik Elias sat out with a groin injury. … The Toronto scratches were forward Leo Komarov (concussion) and defenceman Roman Polak (knee). … Announced attendance was 18,887.
