Toffoli Hat Trick Downs Canadiens  | GAME STORY

MONTREAL, QC - Tyler Toffoli said Bon Soir (good night) to his former team on Tuesday night. Toffoli's three-goal effort helped lift the Devils to a 5-2 win against the Canadiens.

Toffoli scored the 2-1 and the 4-1 goal and hit the empty net for the hat trick in the win.

Captain Nico Hischier was able to return to the lineup after missing the third period against the Islanders to score the game winner, 3-1 and also had a first period goal taken back for goaltender interference.

Despite falling behind 1-0 for the fifth time this season, New Jersey waited patiently for their scoring touch to emerge. Alexander Holtz scored his first goal of the season to tie the game at one, followed by Tyler Toffoli making his former team pay to take the 2-1 lead.

Hischier added the insurance goal 34 seconds into the third period securing the Devils third win of the season.

Jack Hughes had a three-assist night, helping on Hischier goal and both of Toffoli's. Jesper Bratt also extended his point streak with the secondary assist on the captain's goal.

Hughes now has 14 points in five games, which sets a new franchise record for points in the opening five games of a season.

Toffoli, who scored his first goal of the season last week against the Islanders, now has four goals in two games.

Justin Barron and Mike Matheson scored the Canadiens.

Here are some observations from the game:

• Jack Hughes extended his point streak to start the season to five games. He assisted on Tyler Toffoli's second period goal to bring his point total up to 11 and added a 12th point when he assisted on Nico Hischier's first goal of the season. All of Hughes' assists have been primary this season. His four-point night secured his 13 points in five games. 

• Nico Hischier and Erik Haula both returned to the Devils lineup tonight. Haula has missed the last two games while Hischier missed the the third period of the road game against the Islanders and missed one practice with the team.

Hischier had a first period goal taken away, one that would have tied the game at one less than two minutes after the Canadiens took the lead, however, the Devils captain's goal was called back for goaltender interference.

• Timo Meier is starting to pick up. He had the primary assist on Alexander Holtz's power play goal in the first period. Meier now has three assists this season, after clocking in two against the Islanders.

He wasn't awarded the assist on the Toffoli goal, but Meier should have the honorary assist for the turnover he created on Toffoli's second period goal, laying the body on Montreal's Jonathan Kovacevic, to prevent a clean pass. Have a look:

• Cayden Primeau made an unbelievable save on Ondrej Palat in the first period. You have to see it to believe it.

• Holtz's goal came in just after the Devils power play expired. The goal is only the third 5-on-5 goal Montreal has given up this season.