Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs
The Islanders got back to their winning ways after dropping the previous two games, with a 3-2 victory in overtime against the Maple Leafs in Toronto last night.
Defenseman Noah Dobson got the Isles on the board after they went more than half of the first period without a registering a shot on goal. Dobson’s sixth goal of the year came at the 15:21 mark when he slapped home a one-timer pass from linemate Sebastian Aho. The game remained tied into the second period until an enemy to the Islanders fan base lit the lamp.
The Leafs got a power play opportunity courtesy of Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov who cross checked Leafs’ forward Calle Jarnkrok. Eight seconds into the man advantage, ex-Islander and captain of the Maple Leafs John Tavares found the back of the net, glove side on Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin. It was just his third goal in nine games against his former team. The Islanders then had to climb out of a hole for yet another game.
Later on in the second period, Maple Leafs All-Star forward Austin Matthews tipped a puck over the shoulder of Sorokin to give Toronto a 2-1 lead. Defenseman Timothy Liljegren ripped one from near the blue line and Mathew’s redirected it in. However, the comeback kids would prevail.
Heading into the third period the Islanders had scored 30 goals in the third period which was good for the most in the entire league. Islanders forward Josh Bailey would make that 31.
Maple Leafs goaltender Erik Kallgren misplaced a pass from behind his own net and Bailey was there to capitalize. He fired home a wrist shot in the slot just under the glove of Kallgren to tie the game at two a piece with under three minutes to go in regulation. Then came overtime.
Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier was finally able to shake off the rust as he sniped home his first goal in 11 games. He picked up a puck left for him by Brock Nelson and took fired it top shelf on Kallgren to complete the comeback.
The common theme in a majority of the Islanders comeback wins thus far this season has been Ilya Sorokin standing on his head. He made some clutch saves in the third period to keep it a one goal game and allow the Islanders to eventually force overtime. Sorokin finished the night with 30 saves on 32 shots.
The Isles will head back to Long Island to take on the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow at UBS Arena, puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.
