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.

William Nylander scored his second goal of the game at 1:10 of overtime as the Toronto Maple Leafs battled back from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits in the third period to down the New Jersey

Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe opened up about his return to Toronto for the first time since being fired by the Maple Leafs.

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.

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.

Sheldon Keefe and the New Jersey Devils traveled to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs, in an attempt to get their first win of the season against them.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs deal with a losing streak, the New Jersey Devils are an example of consistently overcoming tough stretches.

When: Thursday, 7 p.m., Scotiabank Arena TV: TSN4 Radio: TSN 1050 Odds: Devils -102, Maple Leafs -122 The buzz If the Maple Leafs are beaten by the Devils in Sheldon Keefe’s return, they’ll do something that never happened during his tenure as coach in Toronto: Lose four games in a row in regulation.

The club is preparing to host the New Jersey Devils with all eyes on the return of former Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe. The 44-year-old coach spent nine years with the Maple Lea