Devils 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT)
DEVILS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 3 (OT): Mark Fayne's fluke goal at 1:18 of overtime lifted New Jersey past Toronto on Tuesday for its fourth consecutive victory.
Fayne was the unlikely hero, firing a shot from the blue line that appeared to be going wide of the goal. Toronto netminder Jonas Gustavsson tried to corral the puck but it deflected off the inside of his left pad and into the net, spoiling a spirited Maple Leafs comeback.
With Toronto pressing for the equalizer, Phil Kessel brought the Air Canada Centre fans out of their seats with 44 seconds left in regulation, slapping a quick shot from in close that deflected off the skate of a Devils defenseman and past New Jersey netminder Martin Brodeur.
Toronto had a glorious chance to end the OT session moments before Fayne's game-winner, but Jake Gardiner rang his initial shot off the post and Kessel swatted a second attempt wide of the net.
Brodeur turned aside 29 shots to improve to 7-1-0 in February.
Petr Sykora, David Clarkson and former Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky had the regulation goals for New Jersey.
Tim Connolly and Clarke MacArthur countered for Toronto, which has dropped six of seven.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Maple Leafs lost for the first time in eight games when Connolly scores. ... Ponikarovsky has four goals, six assists and a plus-7 rating in 13 games since coming to the Devils in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes back in January. ... Gustavsson stopped 28 shots in defeat.