Dennis Hildeby made 22 saves in his NHL debut Thursday night and the Toronto Maple Leafs scored three times in the first period for a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J.
The result spoiled the home debut of Devils coach Sheldon Keefe, who was the Maple Leafs’ coach the previous four-plus seasons.
Called up on an emergency basis due to Joseph Woll experiencing lower-body tightness, Hildeby gave up both goals in the final minutes of the first and second periods after the Maple Leafs led by three goals each time.
Hildeby highlighted his debut with a diving save on a Jack Hughes attempt with about a minute left in the first and a sprawling stop of an Erik Haula shot during another New Jersey power play with about 5 1/2 minutes left in the second.
Steven Lorentz had a goal and an assist in the opening period when the Maple Leafs scored three goals in a span of 6:28. Max Pacioretty netted Toronto’s first goal of the season and Bobby McMann also tallied before Lorentz scored.
John Tavares also scored as the Maple Leafs rebounded from a frustrating 1-0 loss at Montreal in their season opener on Wednesday, when they had 48 shots on goal.
Jesper Bratt scored a power-play goal and Timo Meier also tallied for the Devils, who were denied their first 3-0-0 start since 2018-19. The Devils won their first two games in Prague over the Buffalo Sabres.
New Jersey goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped 18 shots.
Pacioretty opened the scoring 8:18 into the contest during a scramble in front. After Conor Timmins had a shot carom off Meier, Pacioretty chipped in a shot from the right side over a sprawling Markstrom as New Jersey’s Brenden Dillon attempted to defend.
The Leafs took a 2-0 lead at 11:29 after a turnover by Jack Hughes along the boards. McMann gained possession and sent a shot from above the right circle by Markstrom.
After Lorentz forced Hughes into the giveaway, he made it 3-0 by getting to a loose puck in the slot and backhanding it over Markstrom’s right shoulder and glove with 5:14 left in the first.
New Jersey scored on Bratt’s shot through the slot with 42 seconds left in the first.
Tavares made it 4-1 with 5:08 left in the second by making a slick move on Dawson Mercer and lifting a wrist shot from the slot over Markstrom.
Meier capped the scoring with six seconds left in the middle period.
–Field Level Media
