Toronto, ON -- (Sports Network) - Andrew Raycroft made 24 saves and received three more from the iron around him while Mats Sundin assisted on both Toronto goals, as the Maple Leafs edged the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, at Air Canada Centre.

Kyle Wellwood and Nik Antropov scored for Toronto, which moved into a three- way tie with Carolina and Montreal for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs, with 80 points, visit Buffalo on Friday for the opener of a home-and-home set.

"No doubt, this was a big one," said Antropov. "We have to win as many of these last games as we can to get into the playoffs."

Travis Zajac scored for the Devils, who lead the Atlantic Division by two points over idle Pittsburgh. This marked the opener of a five-game road trip for New Jersey, which will now head south to Florida for games against Tampa Bay and the Panthers on Thursday and Saturday.

Marty Brodeur turned aside 23 shots in the loss.

The opening period ended with the Maple Leafs leading 1-0 following a late power-play goal by Wellwood. The action became chippy after a lengthy fight midway through the stanza between Cam Janssen and Wade Belak that lasted for several minutes.

"During my second shift, I saw him and called him out because I wanted to get it out of the way," said Belak.

This bout was much-anticipated due to a hit back on March 2 in New Jersey. In that game, Janssen laid out Toronto's Tomas Kaberle and received a three-game suspension for the hit. Kaberle has not played since and is suffering from concussion-like symptoms.

That led to two more New Jersey penalties, the latter of which was an interference call on Colin White at the 17:15 mark. Midway through the two- minute minor, Devils forward Jay Pandolfo misfired on a partial breakaway and the Leafs hustled the other way on a 3-on-2 rush. Sundin streaked down the right-wing side and, from inside the circle, sent the puck across the slot for a successful one-timer by Wellwood with 1:27 to play in the first period.

"I was able to get down low into the slot, Mats was able to get it to me and I one-timed it past Brodeur," said Wellwood.

New Jersey nearly tied it under four minutes into the second period when Zach Parise hit the crossbar on a wrist shot from the right circle. The iron again kept the visitors off the scoreboard midway through the second after David Clarkson clanked the near-side post with a slap shot from the right half-wall.

"We had opportunities...we hit a couple of posts," said New Jersey forward Jamie Langenbrunner.

The Devils continued to apply pressure on Raycroft throughout the second stanza and gained a power-play opportunity when Jeff O'Neill was whistled for slashing with 8:44 remaining. Although the Devils did not register many shots on goal during the power play, they controlled the puck in their offensive zone for much of the two minutes and kept the momentum alive during the latter stages of the period.

With under five minutes remaining, Parise's alert pokecheck provided another good scoring chance. Toronto blueliner Carlo Colaiacovo was late releasing a pass during a routine breakout and Parise stole the puck, walked in on Raycroft and was about to shoot before Colaiacovo steamrolled him into the goal from behind. Soon after, Scott Gomez intercepted a clearing attempt by Raycroft behind the net and momentarily had an open net, but Raycroft flew back to the crease just in time to deflect the puck away.

Before two minutes elapsed in the final frame, Langenbrunner became the third Devil to hit the post. Bearing down on Raycroft on a partial breakaway along the right side, Langenbrunner lifted a wrist shot from beneath the circle and it hit the post on the far side.

The Leafs grabbed a two-goal lead at the 6:09 mark of the third on Antropov's 16th goal. Bryan McCabe alertly kept the puck inside the offensive zone at the right point and the disc was scooped up by Sundin behind the net. The Leafs captain tried a stuffer at the left post and Brodeur made the save, but the rebound was put home by Antropov from atop the crease.

"Competing and playing on a line with Sundin...is a privilege," said Antropov.

New Jersey, though, cut its deficit in half only 40 seconds later when Raycroft allowed a long rebound. Langenbrunner held control along the right- wing side and fired a shot from the outer rim of the circle. The puck bounced off Raycroft and caromed wildly out to the left circle area, where Zajac punched home the rebound with 13:11 remaining in regulation.

The Toronto defense put the clamps down during the final 10 minutes before Brodeur was pulled inside the final minute. The Devils had a hard time maintaining control in their offensive zone and eventually ran out of time.

"They played hard -- they are fighting for their (playoff) lives," Langenbrunner added. "We played hard, too. It was a good, hard-fought game."

Game Notes

The Maple Leafs have won four straight at home...New Jersey played its third consecutive game without key forwards Patrik Elias and John Madden. Both are out with groin injuries...The Leafs have captured seven of their last nine against NJ...Both teams produced 25 shots on goal...New Jersey was held scoreless on three power-play chances and the Leafs were 1-for-2 with the extra skater...Sundin's second assist of the game was his 900th point as a Maple Leaf...Attendance was 19,518.