4 Takeaways From Devils’ 4-0 Shutout Win Over Leafs

On Sunday night, the New Jersey Devils closed out the second half of a back-to-back on the road at Scotiabank Arena, taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Devils were on the hunt for their fifth-straight win, while the Leafs sought to snap a two-game losing skid.

After a scoreless first period, the Devils tilted the ice in their favor with two goals in the second. They maintained their lead in the final 20 minutes, blanking the Leafs for a 4-0 victory — their first time sweeping a back-to-back this season. Here are four key takeaways from the game.

Line Changes Without Mantha

The Devils went without a key veteran in the lineup as Anthony Mantha did not travel with the team to Toronto. Instead, he returned to New Jersey for further evaluation of an injury he sustained Saturday night against the New York Islanders; he took a high stick by Adam Pelech to the throat and is expected to miss some time as a result.

In his absence, the team needed to fill the void on the third-line left wing, but opted not to recall anyone from the Utica Comets and instead deployed 11 forwards and seven defensemen. As a result, Brenden Dillon returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the last four games. Jack Hughes took extra shifts, the Timo Meier-Nico Hischier-Luke Evangelista line led the Devils with 11:31 ice time, and their bottom six frequently rotated.

After taking the first period to adjust to their newfound line changes, the Devils were able to capture and maintain momentum. They also played a defensively-disciplined game, not allowing Toronto a shot on goal until halfway through the opening period. Moreover, the Devils took zero penalties and did not have to face the Leafs’ power play, which currently ranks sixth overall in the NHL.

Meier’s Two-Goal Performance

Heading into the matchup, Meier had gone nine games without a goal, and his last point was an assist on Oct. 27 against the Dallas Stars. His scoring inconsistencies have caused a bit of concern, but his net-front presence has been undeniable. He’s been generating scoring chances at an incredibly high rate, so it was only a matter of time before he started finding the back of the net. He went on to record two goals, a team-leading five shots, two high-danger scoring chances, and six shot attempts.

Toronto turned on Timo Time. https://t.co/vhdtJ79gZO

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 9, 2026

Halfway through the second period, he finally broke the seal to put New Jersey on the board. In a textbook sequence from the top line, Hischier won the opening faceoff, and Meier sent the puck back to Declan Chisholm. From there, Meier raced to the right circle to fire a snap shot past Anthony Stolarz. Luckily for Devils fans, he didn’t stop at just one. Just four minutes later, Meier extended the Devils’ lead to 2-0, deflecting Hughes’s initial shot into the net. 

After the game, Meier made it clear that while it feels good to score, his number-one priority is still being the best possible teammate. “I’m trying to be a team player and do everything I can to contribute to the team. Obviously you want to score goals and all that, but I think my game can also be playing physical, being responsible defensively…I’m just having fun that we’re winning. That’s what it’s all about,” he told reporters.

Hischier Hits 500 Points

The milestones just keep coming for the Devils, and this time it was their captain who had something to celebrate. Hischier’s secondary assist on Meier’s first goal marked his 500th-career NHL point. He also scored a goal of his own in the third period, finding the back of the net for his fifth power-play tally of the season.

Hischier became only the third Swiss-born player to hit the 500-point mark, joining some elite company in Roman Josi and Kevin Fiala. This comes just one month after Hischier scored his 200th goal. 

500th @NHL point, with some help from Timo. We couldn’t name a more perfect way for Cap to get his milestone. https://t.co/DlhBOGTTZ9

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 9, 2026

But as expected, Hischier did not dwell on his achievement for long, emphasizing his desire to focus on winning with the Devils. “I always say for sure, makes me a little proud…Some memories I’ll have forever, but I want to get better memories with winning something with the team,” he stated.

Hellebuyck’s Shutout & Mehta’s Statement

Connor Hellebuyck has won his first five starts for the Devils, making him the first goalie in franchise history to do so. He made 23 saves for his first shutout of the season, finishing strong to maintain New Jersey’s four-goal lead.

The difference in the team since the start of the Hellebuyck era has been undeniable. Now, the Devils are enjoying stability between the pipes, and this goaltending buy-in has directly led to an increase in confidence.

However, there was a bit of controversy after the game, when general manager Sunny Mehta made a statement regarding Tuesday’s matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. The organization decided that Hellebuyck will not start against his former team since it could reduce the team’s “expected win probability.”

Devils Back in Action on Tuesday

The Devils will close out their three-game road trip this Tuesday against the Jets, where they will face former teammates Dawson Mercer and Nico Daws. Puck drop is set for 7 PM ET at Canada Life Centre.