Maple Leafs beat Islanders with rematch looming

Field Level Media|published: Tue 31st December, 16:12 2024

Dec 31, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) scores a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Steven Lorentz scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting New York Islanders 3-1 on Tuesday afternoon.

David Kampf and John Tavares also scored for the Maple Leafs, who had lost three of their previous four games. William Nylander had two assists. Joseph Woll stopped 30 shots.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the Islanders, who have lost three of four. Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves.

The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs at Toronto 6-3 on Dec. 21. The Maple Leafs visit the Islanders on Thursday.

Nylander passed from behind the net into the low slot to Kampf, who opened the scoring at 17:54 of the first period. The sequence started when Toronto's Christopher Tanev blocked a shot in the defensive zone to start a rush the other way that set up a shot on goal by Nylander.

The Islanders put the puck in the net 38 seconds into the second period but a video review determined that the play was offside.

The Maple Leafs had a goal called back at 3:56 because of goaltender interference.

The Islanders tied the game when Pageau converted a pass into the low slot from onrushing Noah Dobson at 11:59 of the second period.

Toronto regained the lead 16 seconds later when Ryan Reaves chipped the puck into the neutral zone to Lorentz, who buried a high 27-foot wrist shot.

Sorokin made successive saves on Nylander and Matthew Knies midway through the third period to keep New York close.

Pageau tipped a shot and hit the crossbar at 13:28 of the third.

The Maple Leafs went on the power play at 14:57 of the third. New York's Brock Nelson had a break on goal while killing the penalty but Woll made the save.

With Sorokin removed for an extra attacker, Dobson was called for tripping at 19:17. Sorokin stayed off even though the faceoff was in New York's zone. Tavares scored into an empty net at 19:27.

Toronto put Auston Matthews (upper-body injury) on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 20 for purposes of roster management. Pontus Holmberg and Oliver Ekman-Larsson did not play for Toronto because of illness.

--Field Level Media

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