Devils 4, Maple Leafs 2
Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and an assist to reach 700 points in his 700th career game as the New Jersey Devils skated to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.
Kovalchuk, who has recorded 368 goals and 332 assists in nine seasons, has at least 30 goals his last eight campaigns and had 29 his rookie year (2001-02).
Patrik Elias also had an empty-net goal and an assist, while Mattias Tedenby and defenseman Henrik Tallinder added goals for the Devils (37-38-5).
All-Star Phil Kessel scored his 31st goal of the season 6:18 into the third period and Tyler Bozak added a shorthanded tally with 7:18 left while the Maple Leafs (37-33-11) were down two men.
Kovalchuk’s 30th goal gave the Devils the lead 13:47 into the game on the power play. The Russian would later assist on Tedenby’s eighth goal 14:29 into the second. Tallinder scored his fifth goal of the campaign just 65 seconds later for a 3-0 lead and Martin Brodeur saved all 17 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes.
Devils forward Zach Parise, who returned from November knee surgery to play against Montreal Saturday, was a scratch for the second straight game.