GDT: Devils at Leafs (7 p.m., Sportsnet)

by Alec Brownscombe on December 6, 2011 in Game Day - 824 Comments

Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Leafs return home to host the Devils in their second game in as many nights. The Leafs last met the Devils in the first half of a back to back, won 5-3, and ended up beating the Blue Jackets the next night to sweep the four points. The Leafs have split their other two back to backs this season.

Joffrey Lupul finished as the NHL’s points leader in the month of November. The Leafs’ last meeting with the Devils played a big role in that as Lupul netted a hat trick in a 5-3 win on November 2. The winger put up 19 points in the month and the Leafs, a week into December, still own two top five NHL point scorers in he and Phil Kessel. What started out as a seemingly hot start has turned into a sustained period of amazing production for the pair.

The Leafs face Martin Brodeur in net tonight, the same goalie Lupul put three past and the Leafs mustered five on in the early November meeting. Brodeur was chased in his last game eight minutes into the contest after allowing three goals on four shots against the Minnesota Wild in what was Brodeur’s second shortest start of all time.

The Devils will have a distinct rest advantage in this one, however, as the Leafs are coming back from a trip to Boston and New York to play their third game in four nights. James Reimer will return to the net for his second start since coming back from injury.

Your interesting stat for the night – the Leafs have a 70% points percentage against teams not named the Boston Bruins.

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