Though they managed more goals than in their beatdown in Boston, not much else was different for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, registering only 14 shots in a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders for their eighth-straight loss at the Air Canada Centre.
The Maple Leafs looked to have very little jump in their first game back home after returning from a five-game road trip. Their 14 shots against the Islanders is only one more than they registered against the Boston Bruins just one night ago. Toronto has been held to under 20 shots in all three of their previous games, putting just 18 shots on net two games ago against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.
Leading the way for the Islanders were a couple of Toronto-area natives as North York’s Matt Moulson registered two goals, including the eventual game winner en route to first star of the game honours. Mississauga native John Tavares chipped in with three assists and was named second star of the game.
After being held without a goal in Monday’s shutout loss to the Bruins, the Leafs got on the scoreboard first in their return to the Air Canada Centre off a goal from Phil Kessel at the 10:24 mark of the first period. There was initially some confusion as the puck ricocheted off the camera inside the net and back out, though the goal light went on. The play was reviewed and determined to be a good goal.
Kessel’s opening marker was his 36th of the season, tying a career-high set with the Bruins during the 2008-09 season. Tyler Bozak drew the first assist on the play for his 26th of the season and 100th point of his career. The secondary assist was credited to Mike Komisarek for his fourth.
The score was evened up at one just over five minutes later when Josh Bailey roofed the puck over James Reimer off a great feed from John Tavares. The goal was Bailey’s eleventh of the season, while Tavares’ assist on the play was his 40th this year. P.A. Parenteau drew the secondary helper, giving him a season total of 47 assists.
Toronto reclaimed their lead early in the second period with a wraparound goal from Matthew Lombardi in the 500th game of his career. Lombardi came out from behind the Islanders’ net and backhanded the puck through Evgeni Nabokov’s five hole for his eighth goal of the season. Rookie defenceman Jake Gardiner picked up the first assist, giving him 20 this season, while Colby Armstrong drew his second assist of the season on the goal.
New York got the equalizer just past the midway point of the second period when David Ullstrom tipped a pass from Michael Grabner into the Leafs’ net for his third goal of the season. Grabner’s assist was his eleventh of the year, with the secondary assist going to Casey Cizikas, his fourth of the year.
It was in the third period when the Islanders took control of the game as Matt Moulson scored a power play goal at the 13:56 mark of the final frame to give New York the 3-2 lead. Only one minute and 47 seconds later, the Isles extended their lead to two when Parenteau converted on a breakaway opportunity as Leafs’ captain Dion Phaneuf was caught out of position in the offensive zone.
The Leafs pulled Reimer for the extra attacker with just over two minutes left in regulation but it did not pay off as Moulson scored on the empty net for his second goal of the night, sealing the victory for the visiting Isles.
The spectators at the Air Canada Centre let the Leafs hear it in the loss, booing the Blue and White on several occasions during the third period. The loss puts another nail in the coffin of Toronto’s playoff hopes as they sit eight points back of the Washington Capitals for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with only eight games remaining on the schedule. New York’s win, meanwhile, puts them into a tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning for 13th in the East and just one point back of the Leafs.
As was the case on Monday in Boston, the Leafs’ loss certainly can not be pinned on James Reimer in net as he received very little support and was the victim of some defensive errors. The 24-year old netminder allowed four goals on 33 shots for his second-straight loss, dropping his record to 13-14-4 on the season.
The Leafs are back in action on Friday when they hit the road to take on Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils.
Islanders vs. Leafs Stats Recap
Shots
NYI: 34
TOR: 14
Shot Leaders
NYI: Martin and Parenteau tied (4)
TOR: Carter Ashton (4)
Power Play
NYI: 1/4
TOR: 0/4
Blocked Shots
NYI: 13
TOR: 18
Blocked Shot Leaders
NYI: MacDonald, Nielsen and Parenteau (2)
TOR: Carl Gunnarsson (3)
Hits
NYI: 29
TOR: 24
Hits Leaders
NYI: Matt Martin (7)
TOR: Mike Komisarek (4)
Face-Offs
NYI: 23/52 (44%)
TOR: 29/52 (56%)
Face-Off Leaders (Min. 10 opportunities)
NYI: John Tavares – 10/24 (44%)
TOR: Mikhail Grabovski – 7/12 (58%)
Time on Ice Leaders
NYI: Mark Streit (24:08)
TOR: Dion Phaneuf (24:26)
Three Stars
1) Matt Moulson – NYI (2G, 0A)
2) John Tavares – NYI (0G, 3A)
3) P.A. Parenteau – NYI (1G, 2A)
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