The New Jersey Devils' collective reaction to Matthew Tkachuk's hit on Nico Hischier was evidence of team growth as well as growth from the captain himself.

Hischier never saw him coming. Tkachuk hit Hischier high and sent him onto his back. ESPN play-by-play announcer Bob Wischusen called it “a big, freight-train hit,” and analyst and former Devils defenseman PK Subban screamed, “Whoa!” on the call. Then all hell broke loose.

The Toronto Maple Leafs earned a 4-3 victory over the Devils, with William Nylander scoring in extra time to seal his team's third victory over New Jersey in 2024-25.

The New Jersey Devils had a quick one-game travel break in between some home games. They visited the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 16. Despite their best efforts, it was the Maple Leafs who were able to take home the victory 4-3 in overtime.

Hischier scored twice Thursday in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs. Hischier has three goals in his last two games and 22 in 47 games. But he has just four points including those three snipes, in his last nine games.

Philadelphia Flyers (20-20-6, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. New Jersey Devils (26-15-6, in the Metropolitan Division) Newark, New Jersey; Saturday, 12:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The New Jersey Devils host the Philadelphia Flyers after Nico Hischier's two-goal game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Devils' 4-3 overtime loss.

William Nylander scored his second goal of the game at 1:10 of overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Thursday night.

The Devils have only lost twice this season when leading after two periods (21-0-2). And both of those losses are to the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime, including a 4-3 setback at Scotiebank Arena Thursday night.

On Tuesday, tensions boiled over once again in the NHL as the Florida Panthers took on the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. Panthers’ star Matthew Tkachuk found himself locked into a chokehold by a Devils star after he landed a massive hit on Nico Hischier.

For the third straight game, the Devils headed to extra time. But it was Florida that would steal the extra point in a shootout. Anton Lundell scored the deciding tally to lift the Panthers to a 2-1 shootout victory at Prudential Center on Tuesday night.

TORONTO (AP) — William Nylander scored his second goal of the game at 1:10 of overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. Devils coach Sheldon Keefe was back at Scotiabank Arena as a visitor for the first time since being fired by the Maple Leafs in the spring.

Hischier scored a goal in Tuesday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Panthers.