Sep 24, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe makes his technique to the bench earlier than the third interval of the sport in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on the Bell Centre. Obligatory Credit score: Eric Bolte-Imagn Photos Sheldon Keefe spent the previous four-plus seasons teaching the Toronto Maple Leafs in an try to guide the staff to its first Stanley Cup title since 1967.
Shortly after Toronto fell within the first spherical of the playoffs final spring, he was unemployed. About three weeks later, the New Jersey Devils employed him in hopes that he might assist them rebound from a irritating season.
To date, Keefe is off to an excellent begin along with his new staff. The Devils will attempt to make it three straight victories Thursday evening once they host the Maple Leafs of their first sport on dwelling ice in Newark, N.J.
Keefe posted a 212-97-40 file with Toronto after taking up for Mike Babcock 24 video games into the 2019-20 season. The Maple Leafs solely superior previous the primary spherical in 2022-23, and Keefe was fired shortly after the staff’s Recreation 7 loss to the Boston Bruins in Might.
“I do not even know,” Keefe stated on Toronto’s The FAN Hockey Present Tuesday in an try and downplay dealing with the Maple Leafs. “The Leafs are coming in, and it is an awesome likelihood. Let’s get proper at it right here.”
The Devils are looking for their first 3-0-0 begin since successful their first 4 video games of the 2018-19 season and are coming off a pair of strong performances in opposition to the Buffalo Sabres final weekend in Prague. New Jersey trailed for about 4 minutes throughout the second interval of Saturday’s 3-1 win when it was the house staff, and obtained a objective in each video games from new addition Paul Cotter whereas goalies Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen mixed to make 47 saves.
“Everyone knows, to get that win can be large,” New Jersey captain Nico Hischier stated about Keefe dealing with the Maple Leafs for the primary time. “All people has this little further motivation in themselves, for positive, dwelling opener, we all know he was teaching that staff for some time so, we positively ought to be pumped up for that sport.”
Toronto heads into the encounter in opposition to its former coach after a irritating 1-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday evening. The sport was the Leafs’ first beneath new coach Craig Berube.
The Maple Leafs had been unable to get the win regardless of taking 48 pictures on objective in opposition to goalie Sam Montembeault. The trio of recent captain Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Taveres mixed for 16 pictures on objective in a sport during which the Maple Leafs had 25 pictures blocked by the Canadiens.
“We did sufficient to attain and put ourselves in a greater place, however the puck did not go in,” Matthews stated. “There have been a variety of good issues we will take away from the sport. It is Recreation 1. You’d wish to get off to a miraculous begin and win the primary sport, however there have been issues we will construct on.”
In addition to the lack to attain, the Maple Leafs are coping with some uncertainty in objective.
Joseph Woll was unable to start out because of a lower-body damage after complaining of tightness in apply on Tuesday. Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves, and Dennis Hildeby might make his NHL debut Thursday after being referred to as up on an emergency foundation to interchange Woll.
–Discipline Stage Media