Devils 2, Maple Leafs 1 (SO)
Jacob Josefson and All-Star Patrik Elias scored in the second and third round of the shootout, respectively, as host New Jersey handed skidding Toronto its seventh straight setback.
After both teams came up empty in the first round of the bonus format, Josefson skated in and backhanded the puck between the pads of Jonathan Bernier. Cory Schneider denied Tyler Bozak's bid and Elias ended the contest by making a quick deke before beating Bernier with a backhander.
Defenseman Adam Larsson scored his first goal since Nov. 1 with 2:50 remaining in the third period for the Devils, who improved to 5-2-1 in their last eight games. Martin Havlat and Elias each notched an assist on Larsson's second tally of the season and Schneider turned aside 29 shots while making his league-leading 42nd start.
New Jersey native James van Riemsdyk scored his team-leading 21st goal and second in as many games for the Maple Leafs, who have lost 15 of their last 18. Former Devil David Clarkson and Bozak each recorded an assist while Bernier made 22 saves in suffering his fifth straight defeat.
Clarkson chipped the puck between his legs to Bozak and the latter alertly wired a diagonal feed to van Riemsdyk, who skated in and backhanded the puck under the pads of Schneider with 8:11 remaining in the third period to open the scoring. Larsson answered less than 5 1/2 minutes later, using a screen while wristing a shot from above the faceoff circles that glanced off the right post and into the net.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Former Devils G Martin Brodeur officially will announce his retirement from the NHL on Thursday morning during a news conference at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. The 42-year-old Brodeur is the all-time leader in wins (691) and shutouts (125). ... New Jersey RW Jaromir Jagr and LW Tuomo Ruutu returned from three-game absences due to the flu. ... Toronto D Korbinian Holzer recorded three hits in place of injured captain Dion Phaneuf, who is considered week-to-week with a hand injury. ... Maple Leafs D Petter Granberg made his season debut and played in his second career game.