Lupul connected three times in a span of 7:22 against Brodeur, back on the ice after missing six games with a bruised right shoulder. Joey Crabb and Mihkail Grabovski also had goals for the Maple Leafs.
“It was good to get it against him, because he always had my number when I was with Philly,’’ Lupul said. “I was fortunate to get some chances in the second period. All night, we were just trying to get as many pucks to the net.’’
The last time Lupul scored three goals in a game was Dec. 12, 2007, when he had six points for the Philadelphia Flyers against Pittsburgh. He scored four goals in a Western Conference playoff game for Anaheim on May 10, 2006.
Patrik Elias, Darius Zubrus and David Clarkson scored for the Devils, who have lost five of six.
Phil Kessel padded his NHL scoring lead with two assists for Toronto (8-3-1). Kessel, off to the best scoring start for the Maple Leafs since 1944-45, has 10 goals and 10 assists in 12 games.
Lupul has eight goals this season. He totaled 14 last season in 54 games with the Ducks and Maple Leafs combined.
“We have a lot of speed coming down the ice right now,’’ Lupul said. “When we’re skating like that, we’re tough to handle. We might not be the most physical team around, but when we skate like this, we’re tough to stop.’’
Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson had an another analogy.
“I wouldn’t say we’re loosey-goosey,’’ Wilson said. “But it’s like being in a sidecar of a motorcycle and not knowing where the driver is going. I’m happy we won, don’t get me wrong. But we’re starting to get picky about the way we win.’’
Wilson agreed that the Maple Leafs had to take chances against Brodeur.
“The shots at the net are usual plays,’’ Wilson said. “But the hardest thing when you’re coming back is the pass outs from behind the nets. That’s what we did well.’’
Brodeur knew he didn’t play well in his return, his first game since injuring the shoulder Oct. 13 against Los Angeles.
