Madden returns, nets pair for Devils

After missing the two previous games with an ankle injury, John Madden made a major impact in his return to the New Jersey lineup on Sunday as he netted a pair of goals to lead the Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Watch Madden's two goals vs. Toronto 700K 700K

“It’s just small margins,” Steen said. “He reads the play very well. The puck came to me and Marty got over just as quick.”

The victory lifted New Jersey into a three-way tie for first in the Atlantic Division along with the idle Pittsburgh Penguins and the surging Philadelphia Flyers, who won their 10th in 12 games Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.

Zajac and Madden staked the Devils to a 2-0 lead by scoring in a span of 2:19 just before the second intermission.

Karel Rachunek’s drive from the point was stopped by Toronto goalie Andrew Raycroft, but Zajac pounced on the rebound at 17:28 ( 700K ). Zajac, the only Devil to score in back-to-back home losses last week, picked up his 11th of the season and sixth in the last nine games.

With the final seconds of the period ticking down, Madden and Brian Gionta came in on a 2-on-1. Madden’s attempted feed to Gionta deflected in off the skates of Toronto defenseman Ian White with just 13 seconds remaining ( 700K ).

Madden continued to prove his value to the Devils 3:54 into the third ( 700K ) when Paul Martin’s shot deflected in off his skate as he was tied up in front with Nik Antropov.

“He’s great on faceoffs and in so many parts of the game,” Brodeur said. “We’re happy to have him back.”
 
Madden’s 14th of the season gave New Jersey what seemed like a comfortable three-goal lead, but Toronto answered quickly.

Tucker was awarded his sixth of the year just one minute after Madden’s goal on a similar play ( 700K ), as a Jiri Tlusty drive went in off his skate. Kubina cut the Leafs’ deficit to one when he collected his own rebound off a wraparound shot and wristed his fourth past Brodeur at 8:29 ( 700K ).

Toronto outshot New Jersey 13-5 in the third, but couldn’t beat Brodeur again.

“We played good hockey these last four games,” said Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin. “We played against one of the best teams in the conference. We had a lot of chances and, in the third period, we totally dominated them.”

It just wasn’t enough for Toronto, which stayed five points back of the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Material from wire services and team media was used in this report.