The Toronto Maple Leafs struggled with discipline on Thursday, but their new additions stepped up. After a 1-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, the Leafs secured their first win of the season with a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Despite giving the Devils five power plays, three new players were heavily relied on by coach Craig Berube for penalty-killing duties. Thanks to their efforts, Toronto’s penalty kill has already shown improvement, following last season’s 76.9 percent rate, which ranked 23rd in the NHL. Defenseman Chris Tanev led the team with 6:22 on the penalty kill, while new forward Steven Lorentz clocked 4:09, the most among forwards. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson also contributed 1:55 of PK time, ranking 10th on the team.
Tanev lived up to expectations as a steady, reliable defenseman with impressive composure under pressure. However, the standout on defense for the Leafs was goalie Dennis Hildeby, who, in his NHL debut, stopped 22 of 24 shots from the Devils, many of them from close range. Last season, Toronto had the worst penalty kill of any playoff team and ranked 13th out of 16 in the postseason. But after two games, they’ve successfully killed eight of 10 power plays—a promising start with room for growth. While New Jersey applied pressure at times, Hildeby remained calm and confident, limiting their success. His stellar performance, especially compared to Devils starter Jacob Markstrom’s shaky play, made Hildeby’s night even more impressive as the Leafs’ third-string goalie.
If the Leafs can cut down on penalties this season, their offense—which showcased its depth, balance, and skill on Thursday—should consistently deliver three to four goals per game. However, if their defense and special teams continue to improve, they’ll have the chance to win regularly, regardless of the strength of their opponents’ offense. Though it’s still early, Toronto’s defensive play already looks far more organized than last season’s chaotic unit that struggled to prevent goals. The moves made by GM Brad Treliving, along with coach Craig Berube’s leadership, are already showing positive results. Now, the challenge is maintaining this progress as the season unfolds.