Matthews scores two, but Maple Leafs lose game and playoff ground

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At one stage it seemed like Auston Matthews might kick the door in on 70 goals in one night. 

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Then the Maple Leafs stubbed their collective toe, in the game and the playoff race for home-ice advantage next week in a 6-5 loss to the playoff-eliminated New Jersey Devils 

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With two early goals, Matthews reached 67 and 68, two shy of becoming the first NHLer to 70 since 1992-93 when Alex Mogilny and Teemu Selanne had 76. He passed Dave Keon for third in franchise history with his 366th and Mats Sundin for most at even strength (274) and one back of the last man at 69 the past 30 years, Mario Lemieux.  

But he was serving a rare minor when Jesper Bratt put Jersey ahead by a goal, the season-high third power-play goal the Leafs gave up on the night. Back came the Leafs on John Tavares’ second of the evening, but 74 seconds remained when Bratt bagged the winner.

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The Devils had only 20 shots on Ilya Samsonov in the game.    

With Florida shutting out Columbus on Thursday, a Leafs-Panthers’ first-round match looms larger.

Matthews will still have a shot at 70 at home Saturday against Detroit before the schedule ends on the road in Tampa and Sunrise, Fla. 

Both Matthews goals followed the now familiar script of wingers Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi getting in the opposition’s end in a hurry, Domi cutting off a high puck in mid-air and centring to an uncovered Matthews on the first, Bertuzzi to Domi from behind the net, with a patient pass for a slot tip. 

Domi wouldn’t finish the period, however, taking exception to defenceman Simon Nemec rubbing out Matthews and jumping the inexperienced fighter. That landed Domi an instigator, major and misconduct and he didn’t return until only half the final frame remained — at the same time Matthews was assessed a tripping call. 

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Mitch Marner came back onto Matthews’ right wing in his absence, but the Leafs gave up a second power-play goal before the period ended, Nico Hischier tying up Connor Dewar’s stick allowing Timo Meier a clear path to Samsonov. 

Before the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe praised the premier trio for not straying outside the system in helping Matthews push for 70. The first 13 minutes of the game had a bit of everything for both clubs, including a moving timeout tribute to the late Leaf No. 1 pick Rodion Amirov.  

There was the Matthews’ opener, and Tavares and Erik Haula both struck in the first minute. A Mark Giordano giveaway in the slot that Nolan Foote potted didn’t help the veteran’s Game 1 playoff chances on a crowded blueline and the Leafs carelessness continued with a narrow escape of a short-handed goal against. 

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Nick Robertson wound up spoiling goals in consecutive games for himself when a Devils’ challenge spotted him offside, while Meier briefly put the Devils ahead. 

Robertson remained in the lineup for bruiser Ryan Reaves, on a third line with William Nylander and Pontus Holmberg, while the interesting fourth line foray for Matthew Knies continued. Dewar was back in the lineup, setting up David Kampf for Toronto’s fifth goal, a nice spinnerama by the big man. 

A night’s rest was extended to defenceman Jake McCabe for what Keefe called recovery time for bumps and bruises. 

Joel Edmundson came back to the blueline after eight games off with what he finally revealed was a shot block injury, only to absorb another hard puck and limp to the bench.   

Eliminated by the Leafs two days earlier, Jersey coach Travis Green urged his team not to lose focus and they responded. 

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