Editor’s note: This interview was originally published on Dec. 10. On Thursday, Sheldon Keefe will coach in Toronto for the first time since joining the New Jersey Devils. NEWARK, N.J. — The slogan that lines the dressing room wall of Sheldon Keefe’s New Jersey Devils team reads: Compete. Commit. Connect.

On Thursday night, the New Jersey Devils lost their fourth overtime (OT) game of the season in five tries. Jack Hughes tried to cut through two defenders and lost the puck, leading to an odd-man rush and the eventual Sam Carrick winner.

The Devils have only lost twice this season when leading after two periods (21-0-2). And both of those losses are to the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime, including a 4-3 setback at Scotiebank Arena Thursday night.

TORONTO (AP) — William Nylander scored his second goal of the game at 1:10 of overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. Devils coach Sheldon Keefe was back at Scotiabank Arena as a visitor for the first time since being fired by the Maple Leafs in the spring.

Keefe was coaching an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena for the first time since being fired by the Maple Leafs on May 9. Having been hired by the Devils 14 days later, he’d faced his former team twice this season, both at Prudential Center.

The Toronto Maple Leafs earned a 4-3 victory over the Devils, with William Nylander scoring in extra time to seal his team's third victory over New Jersey in 2024-25.

Welcome back to Toronto, Coach Sheldon Keefe. On behalf of Leafs Nation, thank you for your nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization,” the announcer said as fans applauded. Sheldon Keefe gets a warm reception from the Toronto crowd in his return to the city 💙👏 pic.