Devils' nightmare period vs. Leafs highlighted by Cory Schneider gaffe (Video)

The first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t go so well for the New Jersey Devils Friday night.

Already down 1-0 after a Nazem Kadri power play goal, Connor Brown was given a late Christmas gift courtesy of Devils goaltender Cory Schneider.

With New Jersey on the power play, Schneider received a pass from Damon Severson and had a major brain fart while deciding just what the heck to do with it. Brown came in, lifted the netminder’s stick and potted his ninth of the season and third in his last three games.

Things got even worse 83 seconds later when Auston Matthews scored his 21st of the season, ending Schneider’s night after just 14:40 and five shots faced. It was the first goaltending change of the season for the Devils. And because it wasn’t New Jersey’s night, Kyle Quincey ended up with a roughing penalty following the goal.

Keith Kinkaid took over and was warmly welcomed by the Leafs with a power play goal against 35 seconds after entering the game from Tyler Bozak.

So if you’re keeping track, that’s three Leafs power play goals and one shorthanded in the first period all coming in a 5:49 span.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy