logo
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
3 takeaways from Leafs-Devils: Woll’s wonderful game, McMann, Robertson’s season-best efforts, Knies’ electric fight
alt
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Arun Srinivasan
Dec 31, 2025, 06:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 30, 2025, 23:33 EST
Comments
Today is gonna be the day
That they’re gonna throw it back to you
Say what you will about the 2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs, they are far from predictable.
Dakota Joshua and Chris Tanev were ruled out of Tuesday’s game prior to the morning skate, William Nylander was ruled out following the skate, while Auston Matthews was rendered a game-time decision, before being declared out prior to the warm-ups. It was the first time since February 2016 that the Maple Leafs suited up without one of Matthews, Nylander, or Mitch Marner, who is in the rearview, at least until his return in a few weeks. There were built-in excuses for a scheduled loss, to close out the year.
And of course, that would’ve been foolish. Toronto responded with a complete victory, shutting out the New Jersey Devils 4-0, receiving a standing ovation as it exited the ice for the final time in 2025.
By now, you should’ve somehow 
Realized, what you gotta do 
Joseph Woll was outstanding for the Maple Leafs, recording 33 saves, saving 3.47 goals above expected in all situations via Natural Stat Trick. Woll continued his stellar play, and the thesis statement about the 2024-25 Maple Leafs may yet apply once again: can an average team with underperforming star forwards be saved by elite goaltending?
I don’t believe that anybody
Feels the way I do, about you now
Here are three takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 4-0 victory over the Devils:

Joseph Woll’s wonderful start is a perfect omen to close out 2025

Joseph Woll was outstanding tonight for the Maple Leafs. If you can excuse our lede block, there’s some reason to it: Oasis’s Wonderwall blared over the PA system at Scotiabank Arena entering the second intermission, a nod to Woll. It was also playing in the Leafs’ dressing room before media entered, following the win.
Toronto’s starting goaltender was locked in from the outset, robbing New Jersey’s Ondrej Palat early in the first period. Woll frustrated Devils captain Nico Hischier in the first period and again in the third period, keeping the Devils at bay.
And in between, Woll robbed Hischier of a surefire goal near the end of the second period, drawing rowdy applause from the crowd.
He made another excellent save on Jesper Bratt in the final frame, after Luke Hughes initiated the attack from the point.
Woll was thrilled about the result post-game, but deferred to his teammates when asked about his individual performance.
“It feels nice, but shutouts are not an individual thing. It’s how strong we played, especially in the third period, and how much we shut them down. It was a great team win for us,” Woll said.
“He was stellar all night. He was making massive, highlight-reel saves,” Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann said of Woll post-game.
It was indeed a great team win, but first and foremost was Woll’s stellar play in goal. He deserves a ton of praise, and now the Maple Leafs will continue to prepare for their steep second-half climb.

Nick Robertson, Bobby McMann play their best games of the season

You need players to step up when your two franchise players are out of the lineup. Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann more than met the challenge, responding with their best individual games of the season.
Robertson plays with all-out aggression, and he hounded pucks constantly through the night. During a power play during the first period, Robertson used his speed to establish the zone, worked a strong two-man game with Nicolas Roy, retrieved the puck at the point, and then found a cutting McMann. McMann sniped it home for the game’s opening goal, a precursor to the rest of the contest.
On his next shift, McMann flew in on a breakaway, but Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom made a clever save to keep the puck out. McMann finished with a team-best six shots and used his tremendous speed to great effect against a Devils team that aims to wear their opponents out with superior pace.
Robertson drew a penalty on Devils forward Arseny Gritsyuk in the second period, when his stick got slashed out of his hands. It was only fitting that Robertson’s shot was steered by McMann towards the net, and Roy tipped it home as the power play expired, for a 2-0 lead.
Robertson was awarded the team belt, given the Leafs’ best or most impactful player in a winning effort.
“We had a couple of big players out of the lineup today. Naturally, guys get a little more ice time and more into the game,” Robertson said.
“Nicky has played pretty well all year, in my opinion,” Berube said of Robertson post-game. “It is not much more than he always does. He skates, he works, and he is more confident as a player. He is scoring and making some plays, so it is great to see from him.”
Robertson has carved out a role as a fixture in the Leafs’ top-nine and he’s asserting himself with greater confidence, translating on the ice. The 24-year-old has recorded two goals and five points in his past three games, and if he can unlock his offence more consistently, it may be a catalyst for a second-half surge.

Matthew Knies vs. Nico Hischier was one of the best fights in recent Leafs history

Matthew Knies is the definition of a modern power forward, and Devils captain Nico Hischier learned this the hard way on Tuesday. Knies and Hischier exchanged a few presumably unkind words at the faceoff circle, and pushed each other before the referees intervened. Equal parts bemused and enraged, Knies challenged Hischier to a fight off the whistle. It was one of the best tilts in recent Leafs’ history and it paid immediate dividends.
Here is the full fight, courtesy of our friends at HockeyFights.com:
You could argue that Knies’ fight, and the Leafs’ ensuing strong play is spurious correlation. Let the economists fight about this distinction. It’s clear that it was a galvanizing moment for the Leafs, as Calle Jarnkrok scored immediately afterwards.
“It was awesome to see (Jarnkrok) score a goal like that. I’ve never seen a goal like that, but it was awesome cheering him in the box,” Knies said with a smile, post-game.
“I thought it had a huge impact,” Berube said post-game. “I am not sure exactly what started it. I didn’t ask him. But he took off a good player for five minutes. He is a good player himself, but those are just the things he is capable of doing. He is a big guy who can handle himself and is physical. I thought the guys really fed off it. We were really physical after that fight.”
“That was nice, especially how passionate it was in there,” McMann said post-game. “In the moment, going at it, it fired up our whole bench and everyone was super excited. And the energy was evident right away. We got one there quick, and we stayed on it, and played a lot of O-zone time after that.”
Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe was seemingly irate post-game, due to his team’s lack of response to the fight, as Knies won handily.
“Do I want our captain and one of our best players fighting when we’re down 2-0 in the third period? Absolutely not,” Keefe said. “But we do need some guys to step up and show some emotion and show some balls and play with some urgency and competitiveness and step out of character.”
It was a dynamic fight and considering that Knies is under contract for the Maple Leafs through the 2030-31 season, it may live on his career highlight reel.

PRESENTED BY TABLE FAIR + SOCIAL

TABLE Fare + Social is a vibrant food hall in the heart of Toronto’s financial district,
offering a unique dining and social experience just steps from transit and the
arena—perfect for pregame meals before tip-off. Open weekdays from 11am to 10pm,
TABLE serves up morning treats, creative eats, and lively after-work events. With a
private terrace overlooking Toronto’s elevated park, guests enjoy stunning views
alongside year-round programming that includes food tastings, cooking classes, live
music, and pop-up events designed to spark connection and creativity.
Follow along @Tablefood hall or tablefoodhall.com
Editorials
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News