UBS Keys to the Game: Islanders vs. Maple Leafs

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (14-13-6) VS TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (24-10-3)7:00 PM | UBS ARENA | BUY TICKETSWATCH: MSG+2 | MSG GO | ESPN+LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | 1050AM
The New York Islanders are trending in the right direction.
After picking up their third-straight win, a 4-0 shutout over the Arizona Coyotes, and rising above NHL .500 for the first time since Nov. 11, 2021, the New York Islanders will waste no time before their next game, as they close out their back-to-back set against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

It'll be the second meeting of the season between the clubs as the Islanders and Maple Leafs last met in the second game ever at UBS Arena on Nov. 21 where Toronto blanked the Islanders 3-0. Mitch Marner scored twice including once shorthanded and Ondrej Kase also found the back of the net for Toronto. Joseph Woll earned his first-career shutout with a 20-save performance. In that game, the Islanders were without Josh Bailey and Anders Lee, and defensemen Adam Pelech and Andy Greene, who were all placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
The Islanders enter this matchup with a nearly full lineup and have regained some mojo as they leapfrogged past the New Jersey Devils (33 points) and Philadelphia Flyers (34 points) in the Metropolitan Division standings, moving up to sixth place with their shutout win over Arizona. Brock Nelson scored twice, while Scott Mayfield and Austin Czarnik buried first-period goals. Ilya Sorokin posted his fourth shutout of the season with a 17-save performance in the win over the Coyotes.
"Everyone knows the style of hockey we play," Mayfield said. "It's a good sign when that's happening and We've been able to put it together here for a little bit. Things seem like they're coming together better. We want to be stingy in our end and push the pace going forward."
Toronto enters Saturday's meeting rested and coming off a 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday night. After taking a 3-1 lead following the first intermission, the Leafs relinquished five unanswered goals. Ilya Mikheyev and Michael Bunting scored even-strength goals, while Marner buried his first power-play goal of the season. Jack Campbell made 21 saves on 26 shots in the loss.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Mayfield scored his second goal of the season and also dished out an assist. The defenseman has three points (1G, 2A) in his last two games. Through 33 games this season, Mayfield has posted nine points (2G, 7A).
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• Czarnik notched his second goal of the season as he returned to the lineup - in place of Kieffer Bellows - for the first time since Jan. 13. Czarnik skated alongside Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee.
• With an assist, Barzal increased his team-leading point total to 24 (7G, 17A) through 30 games.
• With a two-goal game, Nelson leads the team with 13 tallies on the season. The centerman now has three goals in his last three games. Through 24 games this season, Nelson has totaled 17 points (13G, 4A).
• With two assists against Arizona, Adam Pelech has a three-game point streak with four assists during that span. Pelech, who will represent the Islanders at the 2022 NHL All Star Game in February, has 10 points (1G, 9A) through 29 games.
• Josh Bailey also dished out two assists and in doing so, extended his point streak to three games where he's picked up four points (1G, 3A). Through 27 games this season, the veteran winger has produced 16 points (3G, 13A).
• Ilya Sorokin made his 23rd start of the season, while his record improved to 11-7-5 and he recorded his fourth shutout of the season. The Russian netminder has a 2.26 GAA and a .927 SV%.
• With the win, the Islanders (14-13-6) moved above NHL .500 for the first time since Nov. 11, 2021. The Islanders (34 points) also leapfrogged the New Jersey Devils (33 points) and Philadelphia Flyers (34 points) in the Metropolitan Division standings, moving up to sixth place.
• Ryan Pulock remains on LTIR (lower body) and Kyle Palmeri remains on IR (lower body).
• Immediately following the win over the Coyotes, the Islanders were
deeply saddened with the confirmation of the news that Islanders dynasty legend and Hockey Hall of Fame member Clark Gillies had passed away

LEAFS NOTES:

• Mikheyev opened the game's scoring against the Rangers as the Russian winger put away his sixth goal of the season and his second in as many games, as well as his third goal in the last four games. Since making his season debut on Dec. 14 after suffering a broken thumb in preseason, Mikheyev has produced seven points (6G, 1A) through eight games.
• Marner scored his eighth goal of the season and his first on the power play. The winger has goals in back-to-back contests as well as four points (2G, 2A) during that span. Through 28 games this season, Marner has registered 25 points (8G, 17A).
• Bunting notched his ninth goal of the season and his second in as many games. The winger also extended his point streak to five games where he's scored as many points (2G, 3A) in that span. Through 37 games, the rookie has totaled 24 points (9G, 15A) and is tied for fourth among all NHL rookies.
• Campbell made his 28th start of the season, while his record dropped to 19-6-3. Campbell has a 2.24 GAA, a .927 SV% and ranks second in the NHL among goaltenders with his four shutouts.
• With Marner's power-play goal, the Leafs extra-man unit ranks first in the league with a 29.5% conversion rate. Their penalty kill ranks seventh in the NHL at 83.5%.
• In the faceoff circle, the Leafs are the top ranked team with a 55.5 FOW%.
• Former Islander captain John Tavares ranks eighth in the NHL with his 61.5% FOW%. Through 36 games this season, Tavares has compiled as many points (15G, 21A).
• Auston Matthew leads the Leafs in scoring with 41 points through 34 games. His 25 goals this season are ranked third in the NHL. With an assist against the Rangers, Matthew extended his point streak to six games where he has eight points (5G, 3A).