Toronto Maple Leafs win 3-1 over New York Islanders

The Toronto Maple Leafs secured a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena, with goals from David Kampf, Steven Lorentz, and John Tavares. Joseph Woll put on a stellar performance in goal, making 30 saves as the Maple Leafs improved their record to 23-13-2, tying them with the Florida Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

The Islanders’ lone goal came from Jean-Gabriel Pageau, with goaltender Ilya Sorokin making 22 saves in the losing effort. Maple Leafs’ captain Auston Matthews remained sidelined for a fifth consecutive game due to an upper-body injury, with defenseman Marshall Rifai being called up from the minors in his absence.

Kampf opened the scoring in a slow first period with his second goal of the season, taking advantage of a play set up by William Nylander. Despite a couple of close calls, including a disallowed goal for the Islanders due to an offside call and a Toronto goal overturned for goaltender interference, the game remained tight.

Pageau brought the Islanders within one goal in the second period, only for Lorentz to quickly respond and restore Toronto’s lead. Tavares sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute of play.

Notable absences for both teams included Pontus Holmberg and Oliver Ekman-Larsson for the Maple Leafs, and Simon Holmstrom for the Islanders, all sidelined due to illness or injury.

In terms of takeaways, Woll showed resilience despite a minor injury scare, while the Islanders continued to struggle on the power play. The key moment in the game came from defenseman Chris Tanev, whose blocked shot led to the breakout that resulted in Toronto’s first goal. The Maple Leafs’ record without Matthews in the lineup also highlighted their ability to adapt in his absence.

Looking ahead, the Maple Leafs and Islanders will face off again in a rematch on Thursday at the Islanders’ home arena. Stay tuned for more updates on this ongoing rivalry in the NHL.

This article, originally published by The Canadian Press on December 31, 2024, captures the excitement and drama of the Maple Leafs’ victory over the Islanders. Stay tuned for more thrilling hockey action as the season progresses.