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Been A Long Time Seeing the Maple Leafs |
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The New Jersey Devils are ready to get set to play the Toronto Maple Leafs for a home and home series starting at 7:30pm ET at Scotiabank Arena. The Devils are 15-23-5, eighth in the Metropolitan, and the Leafs are 27-10-3, third in the Atlantic. Leafs are on a four game winning streak.
Much has changed since the Devils last played the Leafs on January 14, 2020. Louie Domingue started in net and eventually relieved by Cory Schneider. Both forwards Austin Mathews and Blake Coleman had hat tricks as the Leafs beat the Devils 7-4. Ray Shero left the Devils two days prior and Tom Fitzgerald was designated the interim GM tag. The Devils are still young and struggling to make ends meet in the win department.
Aside from William Nylander and Austin Mathews, look out for Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin, who had the game winning goal against the Detroit Red Wings last Saturday and has seen more playing time as of late. For the Devils, Damon Severson has six points in the past five games. Jesper Bratt has four goals during that timespan as well.
It will be a big test for the Devils new and improved special teams. The Leafs currently rank #1 in the NHL on the power play with a success rate of 31%. They also rank #6 on the penalty kill with a 83.5% kill rate. Also, the Leafs are leading the league winning faceoffs as well.
If the Devils split the series, I would consider this progress in the right direction. But the Leafs are good and winning. Here's hoping that Gillies or Schmid can hold off the Leafs like David Ayers did nearly two years ago.
Jack Hughes loves Taylor Ham.
Enough said.
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Sam Woo is co-host and executive producer of the Let's Go Devils Podcast which can be heard live every Sunday at 9pm ET and Wednesday at 8:30pm ET. You can follow Sam on Twitter: @PrimetimeSamWoo
New Jersey Devils Blogger • 
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