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Gustavsson helps Leafs down Devils

Nov 19, 2010 - 5:14 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Jonas Gustavsson made 29 saves to lead Toronto to a 3-1 victory over New Jersey at Air Canada Centre.

Mikhail Grabovski, Phil Kessel and Kris Versteeg potted goals for the Leafs, who won their second straight following an eight-game losing streak.

"We've had a lot of guys that have really been finding the back of the net in the last few games," Versteeg said. "When some guys haven't been going, some other guys have been. We can't have dry periods where guys aren't getting the job done. We have to put the pedal to the medal and keep it going."

Toronto head coach Ron Wilson earned his 589th career win to pass former Devils, Wild and Canadiens head coach Jacques Lemaire to move into seventh place on the NHL's all-time list. Wilson has earned 71 of his wins with the Leafs.

Dainius Zubrus netted the only goal for the Devils, who have lost two straight and four of their last five.

Martin Brodeur absorbed the defeat after allowing two goals on 20 shots before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury after the second period. Jonas Hedberg yielded a lone goal on seven third period shots.

After a scoreless first period, both teams found the back of the net in the middle session.

Grabovski one-timed a rebound from between the circles past Brodeur at 1:42 while on the power play to put the Leafs in front before Nazem Kadri made a slick cross-ice feed to Kessel, who beat Brodeur from the bottom of the left circle to make it 2-0 at 7:29.

Less than three minutes later, Ilya Kovalchuk found Alexander Vasyunov at the lower left circle and his pass in front for Zubrus was whiffed on but caromed off the toe of his skate past Gustavsson to trim the lead to one. The play was reviewed and the call on the ice was upheld.

"We're all disappointed," Kovalchuk said. "We can't keep starting games like we have been. We're just sitting back, waiting, waiting. We just don't want to get scored on, that's our mentality and I think that's wrong. We need to change something."

The Leafs added another power play marker with 6:43 to go in the game.

Kadri made a clever cross-ice pass through traffic to Versteeg, who roofed a one-timer over Hedberg from the bottom of the left circle.

Game Notes

Gustavsson earned his first career win over the Devils in three games...Kadri had one career point in three games before Thursday...Brodeur dipped to 19-16-9 in 45 career meetings with the Leafs...Devils winger Patrik Elias played in his 899th career game...Toronto was 2-fo-3 on the power play while the Devils were 0-for-2...Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury.