Leafs score four in first to burn Devs

Nazem Kadri sparked a four-goal first period with a power-play score, and the red-hot Maple Leafs beat the Devils 4-2 on Friday night at Prudential Center

Kadri and Tyler Bozak each had a goal and an assist, Auston Matthews scored his 21st goal and fellow rookie Connor Brown embarrassed Devils goaltender Cory Schneider with a shorthanded goal while helping the Maple Leafs to their sixth win in seven games (6-0-1).

Toronto’s Frederik Andersen made 30 saves, giving up late goals to PA Parenteau and Jon Merrill in the final 3:24.

“We didn’t start on time,” Parenteau said. “You saw it just like us. Four-nothing in the NHL you are not going to come back, once a year maybe, not twice.”

The Maple Leafs, who had blown multiple-goal leads in their past four games, also got two assists from James van Riemsdyk while spoiling the Devils’ celebration of former owner John McMullen, who became the team’s first inductee into its ring of honor.

Kadri, who has five goals in eight games, got his 15th of the season at 9:26, putting the rebound of a van Riemsdyk power-play shot into an open net.

It got much worse for New Jersey less than four minutes later, when Brown got his ninth of the year. r Matthews stretched the lead to 3-0 at 14:40.

That was enough for Devils coach John Hynes, who lifted his goaltender after he allowed three goals on five shots.

Keith Kinkaid came off the bench and immediately faced a Maple Leafs power play because defenseman Kyle Quincey had knocked down Hyman in front of Schneider. Bozak scored 35 seconds later on a rebound.