The three goals gave Toronto all kinds of confidence heading into the second frame, and as it turned out, they needed all three of those goals to pull out the win in this game.
DEVILS CUT LEAFS' LEAD TO ONE GOAL AFTER STRIKING TWICE IN SECOND FRAME
It was a different Devils team that came out in the second period: New Jersey outshot Toronto 18-13 in the period, and the Devils cut the Buds' lead to 3-2 with two goals in 26 seconds late in the second. It was a cup of cold water to the collective face of the Leafs, who - thanks in no small part to the play of goalie Michael Hutchinson, who stopped 16 of 18 Devils shots in the period, and 27 of 29 shots on the night - turned up their intensity in the remainder of the second and the entirety of the third.
LEAFS CLAMP DOWN IN THIRD, ADD INSURANCE GOAL BY MARNER TO LOCK UP WIN
In the third frame, the Leafs looked like they did in the first, limiting the Devils to just three shots in the frame, while generating another 15 shots to finish the night with 43 shots on Kinkaid. And though it was tight and tense for most of the third, Toronto spent much of its time in New Jersey's zone - and with their net empty late in regulation time in favour of the extra attacker, Marner fired the puck into the Devils' net for his 16th goal of the season and a 4-2 Leafs lead at the 19:38 mark: