EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Corey Schwab made sure the New Jersey Devils didn't miss Martin Brodeur.
Schwab, making his first appearance of the season in place of Brodeur, stopped 27 shots Friday night in the Devils' 1-1 tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"He was phenomenal," teammate Jamie Langenbrunner said. "He made some huge saves and kept us in the game early. Any time you can have a backup come in who hasn't played for eight months and play that well, it's great for our team."
Schwab's only regret was that he didn't come away with a win.
"It turned out good," Schwab said. "It would have turned out better if we got the win."
Gary Roberts scored a power-play goal with 4:42 remaining to salvage the tie for the Maple Leafs. Roberts carried the puck out of the left corner and whipped a backhander past Schwab.
"Those guys play such a tight game and they're so disciplined," Roberts said. "You just don't get very much. Even the shots you do get, they do a great job clearing the front of the net."
Ed Belfour made 21 saves for Toronto to help the Maple Leafs improve to 2-0-1 in their past three games.
The Devils finally gave Schwab some offensive support when Langenbrunner scored with 5:02 left in the second period.
Langenbrunner took a sharp angle shot that hit Belfour and fell into the crease. The puck trickled over the line before a defender could sweep it clear. Schwab was credited with an assist.
Tempers flared in the physical overtime, and Langenbrunner and Bryan McCabe almost came to blows after the final whistle.
"We seem to have hard games against New Jersey," Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn said. "I know why they've won so much. They do compete. We try to do that as well."
Notes
- New Jersey captain Scott Stevens left the team Friday because of a death in his family. His status was uncertain for the Devils' road game Saturday night against Ottawa.
- The Devils will honor recently retired defenseman Ken Daneyko before the Jan. 9 home game against Tampa Bay. Fans attending the game will receive a Daneyko bobblehead doll.
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