With Christmas two days away, James Reimer received an early present as he picked up his first road win of the season in Toronto's 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday, their second win in as many nights.
The 23-year old Reimer stopped 30 shots on the night to earn his first win in five games on the road this season. Reimer's last road victory came on Apr. 2 of last season with a win in the Nation's Capital against the Ottawa Senators.
Clarke MacArthur got the Leafs on the scoreboard early in the game, driving to the outside and putting the puck past Evgeni Nabokov just 1:43 into the first for his tenth goal of the year and first in ten games. Former Isles first round pick Tim Connolly drew the first assist on the play for his tenth, while the additional assist went to Dion Phaneuf, his 17th this season.
After registering the game-winning goal in his first game after being recalled for another stint with the big club in Thursday's win against Buffalo, Nazem Kadri once again got on the scoresheet, intercepting the puck and stickhandling into the slot before putting the puck into the back of the Isles' net. Kadri's goal came on the power play just under three minutes after MacArthur's opening effort, and was assisted on by Mikhail Grabovski for his eighth this season and rookie Jake Gardiner, as he earned his ninth helper of the campaign.
The Leafs were not done adding to their lead in the first period, as just past the midway point of the opening frame, Carl Gunnarsson scored his first goal of the season, blasting a shot from the point past Nabokov. Connolly picked up his second point of the night with an assist, while MacArthur also got into the multi-point action with the secondary assist.
New York were able to trim Toronto's lead down, as Kyle Okposo scored his sixth of the season at the 15:45 mark of the first. Then early in the second period, Frans Nielsen registered his fifth of the year with a power play goal just 40 seconds into the middle frame.
While killing off a phantom high-sticking call to Cody Frason, a great play from Tyler Bozak to steal the puck in the Leafs' zone and bring it up the ice resulted in a shorthanded goal from Joey Crabb to re-establish Toronto's two-goal lead. Crabb's goal was his sixth of the year and it was the fourth shorthanded goal scored by a Leaf this season. Bozak's assist was his 17th of the year.
Mississauga native John Tavares put the Islanders within one just past the midway point of the third period, as he was given too much time alone in front to put home the puck for his eleventh goal of the year. The goal was Tavares' third in his last 23 games, while the assists were credited to P.A. Parenteau and defenceman Travis Hamonic.
Late in the game with both teams playing 4-on-4 hockey due to some questionable off-setting minor penalties, the Islanders pulled Nabokov for the extra attacker. With Nabokov on the bench, Phil Kessel fed Joffrey Lupul in front to ice the 5-3 victory. Lupul's goal was his 16th of the year, and Kessel's assist was his 21st this season.
With a goal and an assist on the night, Clarke MacArthur received first star of the game honours. Tim Connolly was named third star, collecting two assists in the win against his former team.
Connolly was taken in the first round (5th overall) by the Islanders during the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. In two seasons on the Island, Connolly registered 24 goals and 51 assists for 75 points in 163 games.
The Leafs are now off for the Christmas break but return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 27 when they travel to the Sunshine State to take on the Florida Panthers.
Leafs vs. Islanders Stats Recap
Shots
TOR: 26
NYI: 33
Shot Leaders
TOR: Grabovski, Gunnarsson and Lupul tied (3)
NYI: Okposo and Tavares (5)
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