Hellebuyck makes 23 saves, Devils shut out Maple Leafs to win fifth straight

TORONTO -- Connor Hellebuyck earned his first shutout for the New Jersey Devils, making 23 saves in a 4-0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday.

Hellebuyck, acquired from the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 23, became the first goalie to win his first five games with the Devils.

“It’s never easy coming in late and missing a big portion of the season,” said Hellebuyck, who sat out the preseason and the start of the regular season after asking the Jets for a trade. “At some point, there’s rust here and there, and you’re knocking it off.

“Feeling good in the net, and the way the guys have been playing in front of me has just been awesome. It’s almost been a seamless transition.”

Timo Meier scored two goals for the Devils (13-5-0), who have won five straight games and are 9-1-0 in their past 10. Nico Hischier had a goal and an assist. Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes each had two assists.

“He plays so well,” Meier said of Hellebuyck. “I think it gives us a lot of confidence the way he’s standing back there and playing the puck. It just kind of gives you this calmness to the group, and it’s been a lot of fun playing in front of him.”

Anthony Stolarz made 25 saves for the Maple Leafs (8-9-2), who are 0-5-1 in their past six.

“Not a good game for us,” Toronto coach Jim Hiller said. “First period, I thought, was all right. Obviously, that was our best period, and not much going on, which I think probably benefited us tonight. And once a couple of their top players broke loose, we had a hard time with them.”

Meier, who entered Sunday with one goal this season and none in his past nine games, gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead 8:28 into the second period. After Hischier won a face-off in the left circle, Declan Chisholm sent a pass from the left point into the slot, and Meier one-timed the puck past Stolarz.

“Timo’s played some of his best hockey in my time here, and he hasn’t been rewarded for it,” said Sheldon Keefe, who has been the New Jersey coach since May 23, 2024. “But he hasn’t cheated the game at all as he’s gone through. He hasn’t gotten frustrated.”

Meier made it 2-0 at 12:44 when he deflected a shot by Hughes.

“I think we’ve been winning games, and that’s all that matters, and to me, I’m trying to be a team player and do everything I can to contribute to the team,” Meier said. “Obviously, I want to score goals and all that, but I think my game can also be playing physical, being responsible defensively and doing all the things that will eventually lead up to goals.”

With an assist on Meier’s first goal, Hischier became the third player born in Switzerland with 500 points in the NHL, after Roman Josi (799) and Kevin Fiala (528).

“It makes me a little proud, for sure,” Hischier said. “But at the end of the day, like, trying to win something here. Yeah, I guess, it’s, like, some memories I’ll have forever, but I want to get better memories with winning something for the team.”

Hischier extended New Jersey’s lead to 3-0 on the power play at 9:49 of the third period, banging in a Hughes rebound. Brown scored an empty-net goal at 17:23 with Stolarz pulled for an extra attacker for the 4-0 final.

Toronto captain Auston Matthews was held without a point for the first time in seven games.

“It’s kind of the same story,” Matthews said. “I thought we had a good first period. It’s just been tough for us to string together momentum and consistency through 60 minutes of play, and that’s really just been our Achilles’ heel all season long.”

The Maple Leafs played without defensemen Morgan Rielly (lower body) and Chris Tanev (maintenance). Forward Jack Roslovic (lower body) was a late scratch, and forward Colton Sissons (lower body) left late in the second period.

“We have a lot of guys that are out right now, which is tough,” Matthews said. “But it’s that next-man-up mentality. Everybody’s just got to ask a little bit more of themselves and go from there and just be better.”

NOTES: Patrice Bergeron, Brian Burke, Cindy Curley, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne and Keith Tkachuk received their jackets in a pregame ceremony, and Bergeron dropped the first puck for the Hockey Hall of Fame Game. The Class of 2026 will be inducted Monday. … Asked about Sissons, Hiller said, “When a guy doesn’t finish the game, you tend to be a little more concerned.” … Hughes has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his past five games. Bratt has seven points (one goal, six assists) in his past five.