The Toronto Maple Leafs travel to New Jersey to face the Devils on March 4, 2026, in a crucial Eastern Conference matchup at Prudential Center. Both teams are chasing valuable points as the regular season moves deeper into the playoff race, and this game could have a significant impact on their postseason hopes.
Toronto enters this matchup after a difficult stretch of games since the Olympic break. The Maple Leafs have struggled defensively and have dropped several consecutive games, which has pushed them further down the Eastern Conference standings. Despite those struggles, Toronto still possess one of the most talented offensive groups in the league, led by Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares. If their top players rediscover their scoring touch, the Maple Leafs can quickly turn their form around.
New Jersey, on the other hand, has shown signs of improvement in recent games. The Devils recently picked up wins over St. Louis and Florida, giving the team a boost of confidence. While they still sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, their defensive play has improved and the team has received strong goaltending from Jacob Markstrom.
This matchup also carries an interesting historical element. Toronto have enjoyed success against New Jersey in recent years, particularly on the road, and they will try to continue that trend in this contest.
With both teams dealing with inconsistent form and playoff pressure mounting, fans could see an intense and competitive NHL game on Wednesday night.
Match Information
| Match | Toronto Maple Leafs vs New Jersey Devils |
|---|---|
| Date | March 4, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM ET |
| Venue | Prudential Center, Newark |
| Broadcast | Hulu, SN |
| Betting Line | Devils slight favorites |
| Total Goals | Around 5.5 |
Team Form – Last 5 Games
Toronto Maple Leafs
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 3 | Flyers | Loss 2–3 |
| Mar 1 | Senators | Loss 2–5 |
| Feb 27 | Panthers | Loss 1–5 |
| Feb 26 | Lightning | Loss 2–4 |
| Feb 4 | Oilers | Win 5–2 |
Toronto are currently on a four-game losing streak, mainly due to defensive mistakes and inconsistent goaltending.
New Jersey Devils
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 4 | Panthers | Win 5–1 |
| Mar 1 | Blues | Win 3–1 |
| Feb 27 | Penguins | Loss 1–4 |
| Feb 26 | Sabres | Loss 1–2 |
| Feb 6 | Islanders | Loss 1–3 |
New Jersey have won two straight games, showing improvement on both ends of the ice.
Projected Lineups
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
| Line | Players |
|---|---|
| 1 | Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer |
| 2 | Jesper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown |
| 3 | Arseny Gritsyuk – Cody Glass – Lenni Hameenaho |
| 4 | Paul Cotter – Nick Bjugstad – Maxim Tsyplakov |
Defense
| Pair | Players |
|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce |
| 2 | Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton |
| 3 | Brenden Dillon – Simon Nemec |
Goalies
| Starter | Backup |
|---|---|
| Jake Allen | Jacob Markstrom |
Toronto Maple Leafs
Forwards
| Line | Players |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bobby McMann – Auston Matthews – William Nylander |
| 2 | Matthew Knies – John Tavares – Max Domi |
| 3 | Matias Maccelli – Nicolas Roy – Dakota Joshua |
| 4 | Steven Lorentz – Scott Laughton – Easton Cowan |
Defense
| Pair | Players |
|---|---|
| 1 | Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo |
| 2 | Simon Benoit – Jake McCabe |
| 3 | Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Philippe Myers |
Goalies
| Starter | Backup |
|---|---|
| Joseph Woll | Anthony Stolarz |
*Lineup subject to change
Injury Report
New Jersey Devils
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Zack MacEwen | Out for season |
Toronto Maple Leafs
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Chris Tanev | Out (Groin injury) |
Key Players to Watch
Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews
Toronto’s captain remains the most dangerous scorer on the roster. Even during scoring droughts, Matthews consistently generates scoring chances and shots on goal.
William Nylander
Nylander is one of the team’s top playmakers and continues to drive Toronto’s offensive creativity.
John Tavares
The veteran center provides leadership and secondary scoring on the second line.
New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes
Hughes is the offensive engine for the Devils and creates scoring opportunities with his speed and puck control.
Jesper Bratt
A skilled winger who contributes both as a scorer and playmaker.
Nico Hischier
The Devils captain plays an important two-way role and anchors the top line.
Head-to-Head Results
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2025 | Maple Leafs 4 – Devils 0 |
| Oct 22, 2025 | Devils 5 – Maple Leafs 2 |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Maple Leafs 4 – Devils 3 |
Key H2H insights:
- Toronto have had strong results against New Jersey in recent meetings.
- Several games between these teams have been competitive and high scoring.
Player Props
| Player | Prop Pick |
|---|---|
| Auston Matthews | Anytime Goal |
| Auston Matthews | Over 3.5 Shots |
| Bobby McMann | Over 1.5 Shots |
Matthews has historically performed well against New Jersey and could be due for a goal after several games without scoring.
Betting Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Devils -120 |
| Maple Leafs | +100 |
| Puck Line | Devils -1.5 |
| Total | 5.5 |
Best Betting Picks
| Bet Type | Pick |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Maple Leafs |
| Total | Over 5.5 |
| Player Prop | Auston Matthews Anytime Goal |
Final Prediction
This game presents an interesting contrast in momentum. The Devils are coming off consecutive wins and have been solid defensively at home, while the Maple Leafs have struggled since the Olympic break.
However, Toronto still possess the stronger offensive core. If Matthews, Nylander, and Tavares find their rhythm, the Maple Leafs have the potential to break their losing streak.
Given Toronto’s historical success against New Jersey and the motivation to stop their slide, they could earn at least a point in this matchup.
Predicted Score:
Maple Leafs 4 – Devils 3
