Nylander’s Overtime Heroics Lift Maple Leafs Past Devils in Thriller
Toronto, ON — The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena, with William Nylander netting the game-winning goal just 1:10 into the extra frame.
The Leafs’ offensive firepower and resilience were on full display as they rallied against a relentless Devils team in front of 18,577 fans.
First Period
The game began with New Jersey’s Jack Hughes silencing the Toronto crowd early, scoring his 18th goal of the season at 2:21. Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll faced pressure but kept the Devils to a single tally in the period, while the Leafs couldn’t convert on their 10 shots.
Second Period Surge
Toronto leveled the score in the second period when Nylander, continuing his stellar season, buried his 25th goal on a feed from Max Domi and Chris Tanev at 6:14. However, the Devils quickly reclaimed the lead on a power-play goal by Nico Hischier, who capitalized on assists from Jesper Bratt and Hughes at 8:14.
LEAFS WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWIN!@LGCanada | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/riqooyv1Fn
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 17, 2025
Power-Play Precision in the Third
The Leafs’ power play proved lethal in the third period. Auston Matthews tied the game at 2-2 with a one-timer from Nylander and Bobby McMann at 7:43. Despite the Devils responding with another Hischier goal at 9:44, Matthews struck again with an even-strength marker at 15:47, assisted by Mitch Marner and Jake McCabe, setting the stage for overtime.
Overtime Excellence
Toronto dominated possession in the extra period. Nylander’s decisive goal came off a slick pass from Marner, with McCabe earning a secondary assist. The Scotiabank Arena erupted as Nylander notched his second goal of the game and 26th of the season, securing the Leafs’ victory.
Goaltending and Defensive Notes
Joseph Woll earned the win, turning aside 21 of 24 shots, including key saves in the third period to keep the Leafs within striking distance. On the other side, Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom faced a barrage, making 37 saves on 41 shots but couldn’t deny Toronto in crunch time.
Special Teams Impact
The Leafs’ power play went 1-for-2, converting in just 42 seconds of man-advantage time, while the Devils went 2-for-3 in 2:39 of power-play opportunities. Both teams’ penalty kills were tested but proved to be a pivotal factor in the back-and-forth affair.
Standout Performances
Matthews and Nylander were instrumental for Toronto, combining for three goals and three assists. Hischier was the standout for New Jersey, scoring twice and adding an assist.
The Leafs will look to carry this momentum as they face the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.