Matthews scores No. 66, Maple Leafs top Devils to keep pace in Atlantic

NEWARK, N.J. -- Auston Matthews scored his 66th goal of the season for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 5-2 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Tuesday.

Matthews, who extended his goal streak to six games (seven goals), passed Alex Ovechkin (65 goals in 2007-08) for the most goals in a season by an active player.

"It's cool (to pass Ovechkin). He's obviously who he is and what he's done for the game and what he's accomplished," Matthews said. "It's an honor to be in the same sentence with him."

Matthews also became the first player to score at least 66 goals in a season since Mario Lemieux scored 69 for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.

"I think the process is the same every night," Matthews said when told his teammates want to see him get 70 goals. "I find when you really overthink it and want it too much, it almost doesn't go your way. Obviously, you want to make sure, individually and as a team, you're doing the right things night in and night out on both sides of the puck that will translate well in the Stanley Cup Playoffs."

Tyler Bertuzzi had two goals and an assist, and Max Domi and Jake McCabe each had two assists for the Maple Leafs (46-23-9), who are 6-1-0 in their past seven games. Joseph Woll made 18 saves.

Toronto remained three points behind the Florida Panthers for second in the Atlantic Division with one game in hand.

Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer each had a goal and an assist, and Jake Allen made 32 saves for the Devils (37-37-5), who were eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.

"I think this has been one of those seasons where there's been high expectations and things don't go the way you want," New Jersey interim coach Travis Green said. "It's different when you have a veteran team and young team, and you've also got a lot of people, key players injured all year. I believe there's a process to everything.

"Our process really hasn't changed from Day One. It's been about how we improve as a group and how do we win more consistently than we have. It's installing some of my beliefs."

New Jersey announced earlier in the day that forward Jack Hughes will undergo shoulder surgery on Wednesday in Colorado and miss the remainder of the regular season.

"I just think with where we're at this time, it's time to shut him down," Green said. "It's no secret he's been struggling a little bit, but kudos to him to continue to play and try to help this team get into the playoffs."

Nicholas Robertson gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 8:56 of the first period on a wrist shot from the slot.

Hischier tied it 1-1 at 14:25 of the first, splitting McCabe and defensemen Simon Benoit at the blue line before scoring with his backhand.

Mercer gave New Jersey a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal at 5:17 of the second period, scoring with a backhand just inside the left post.

Bertuzzi tied it 2-2 at 15:00 with a wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle, and Giordano scored nine seconds later on a slap shot from the left point to put Toronto in front 3-2.

"I think [Bertuzzi's] playing with more confidence," Matthews said. "I think he's a super guy to play with, works hard in the corners. Between me, Bertuzzi and Domi, we try to hunt pucks, create turnovers and attack the other way, so it's been a lot of fun to play with those guys."

Matthews pushed it to 4-2 at 7:33 of the third period on a wrist shot from the top of the right circle.

"When you watch Matthews, the amount of pucks he puts on net, the shots, the caliber of them is pretty special," Mercer said. "Anyone in the League doing that is pretty special. It hasn't happened in so many years."

Bertuzzi scored an empty-net goal at 18:47 for the 5-2 final.

"For us as a team, we needed to come together a little more with four games left and keep up the consistency in getting ready for the playoffs," Bertuzzi said. "We have to have that playoff mindset and play these last four games like it's playoff hockey."

NOTES: The Maple Leafs have 101 points this season. It is the third straight season they have earned at least 100 points and the eighth time in their history. ... Matthews extended his point streak to 12 games (11 goals, 11 assists). ... ForwardNolan Foote had 9:28 of ice time in his season debut for New Jersey. ... Mercer became the fifth Devils player to score at least 20 goals this season (Hischier, Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt).