Leafs' Playoff Hopes Bedeviled

Jersey batters Toronto, 4-1
By Lev Weinstein,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 4, 2008 11:59 PM CST
Leafs' Playoff Hopes Bedeviled
New Jersey Devils' Arron Asham, left, trips up Toronto Maple Leafs' Jeremy Williams (48) as they chase down the puck during third period NHL action in Toronto on Tuesday, March 4, 2008. The Devils won 4-1. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)   (Associated Press)

After picking up nine out of a possible ten points over their last five games, Toronto's playoff push has turned into a stumble, the AP reports. With last night's 4-1 loss to the Devils, Toronto is still on the outside looking in, with time in short supply. For the Devils, it was a rejuvenating victory following a three-game winless span; despite that slippage New Jersey is only one point behind Pittsburgh for the division and conference top spot.

Zach Parise scored half of the Devils' goals, for his team-best 26th and 27th of the season. New Jersey also benefited from excellent defense, as Martin Brodeur notched 41 saves,  allowing only a single goal to Nik Antropov despite constant pressure from the Leafs, Leafs' goalie Vesa Toskala was shaky, allowing four goals on 25 shots. (More hockey stories.)

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