Maple Leafs 2, Devils 1 (SO)
TORONTO -- Left winger James van Riemsdyk was the only player to score in the shootout to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 2-1 victory over New Jersey Devils on Friday.
Right winger Phil Kessel scored the game's first goal in the third period to give the Maple Leafs the lead but Devils right winger Michael Ryder tied the game with fewer than five minutes to play in regulation as each team had a power-play goal.
Toronto goaltender Jonathan Bernier stopped 34 of 35 shots for the win. New Jersey goaltender Cory Schneider made a save late in the overtime when the Leafs had a 3-on-1 break. He stopped 27 of 28 shots but took the hard-luck loss.
New Jersey (4-7-5) did not have a power play until 1:47 of the third period when Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf was called for hooking. But the Leafs were able to kill the penalty.
The Leafs (11-5-0) finally snapped the deadlock on a power play when Kessel broke between two Devils to score from close range. Kessel's 10th goal of the season came at 8:12 after defenseman Andy Greene was called for hooking left winger Mason Raymond. Defenseman Cody Franson picked up an assist on the goal.
But the Devils took advantage of their own power play when Ryder scored his fifth goal of the season at 15:15 with 11 seconds left in Kessel's slashing penalty. The puck trickled past Bernier who was trying for his second shutout of the season.
Devils center Stephen Gionta was helped off the ice with 6:44 to play in the second period after going skates-first into the end boards when hit by Phaneuf. Gionta returned for the third period.
After an uneventful first two periods ended without a goal, the Devils, who were playing their second game in two nights, had a 22-15 advantage in shots over the Leafs, who were playing their first game since last Saturday's 4-0 loss in Vancouver.
The Maple Leafs had a two-man advantage for 44 seconds in the first period but could not capitalize on the opportunity. It came during a run of more than five minutes with a power play after right winger Mattias Tedenby was given a double minor for high-sticking at 6:36 and defenseman Peter Harrold was sent off for tripping at 9:52.
The Leafs did not take a penalty in the first period, but despite the extended power play, had only an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal entering the first intermission.
NOTES: Former Devils LW Brendan Shanahan and D Scott Niedermayer were among the Hockey Hall of Fame inductees honored before the game. ... Also honored as Hall of Fame inductees were D Chris Chelios, D Geraldine Heaney, who played for the Canadian women's national team, and the late Fred Shero, who coached the Philadelphia Flyers to two Stanley Cup championships. ... Devils D Eric Gelinas (left foot) was on crutches after stopping a shot in Thursday's win at Philadelphia, but X-rays were negative and he played Friday. ... Leafs RW David Clarkson, formerly with the Devils, played his first game against his former team. ... Leafs D Mark Fraser played his first game on Friday since injuring a knee in the second game of the season. ... The Maple Leafs visit the Boston Bruins on Saturday. The Devils will play their third game in four days when they are home Sunday to the Nashville Predators.
