2. Islanders double their lead as Barzal snaps scoring drought. Barzal came into the game leading the next-most-offensively-productive NHL rookie by 12 points, but although he'd amassed an impressive 16 goals and 62 points in 61 games, he hadn't scored in 16 games. But the 20-year-old B.C. native put an end to that scoring drought at 11:45 of the first when he beat Andersen to put the Isles ahead 2-0.
It isn't just Barzal's speed that sets him apart - it's his vision and anticipation that allows him to be as dangerous a playmaker as he is a play-finisher. And to be a point-per-game player in his first year in hockey's top lead speaks volumes about how promising his future is.
3. Marner cuts Isles' lead in half before first intermission, extends his scoring hot streak. Like Barzal, Leafs winger Mitch Marner makes the most of his speed and vision to open up scoring lanes for himself and his linemates, and the sophomore did so late in the first before scoring his seventh goal in his past 10 games - and his 15th of the season - to cut the Islanders' lead to 2-1 with 2:21 left before the first intermission.
Marner took a cross-ice pass from linemate Nazem Kadri at the start of the scoring sequence, then hesitated just long enough to force Isles goalie Jaroslav Halak to shift his positioning and beating him to the far side of the net. Marner's ability to be patient in the face of pressure is one of his best assets, and it helped give his team some life in a period in which they were outplayed.
4. After scoreless second, Rielly ties it up early in third - but Eberle replies to put Islanders ahead again.Neither Toronto nor the Islanders scored in the middle period, but the Leafs had a better period - outshooting their opponents 10-7 - and evened the score 1:28 into the third frame when blueliner Morgan Rielly registered his sixth goal of the year. The goal also was Rielly's 35th point of the season, bringing him within one point of tying his career-best in points - but the Isles didn't take long to get back in front: at the 3:07 mark of the third, centre Jordan Eberle was the beneficiary of a fortunate bounce when the puck went into Toronto's net off of D-man Nikita Zaitsev to give the Isles a 3-2 advantage.
Barzal had the primary assist on the play, giving him a three-point night. And it was the eighth time this season Barzal has put up at least three points in a game. Impressive, to say the least.
5. Leafs don't give up, get game-tying marker from Matthews, win it in shootout on Bozak's goal.The Leafs have been a resilient group under head coach Mike Babcock, and they were no different after Eberle's puck-luck goal, continuing to pressure Halak as the third period unfolded. That persistence paid off with a fortunate marker of their own: defenceman Jake Gardiner took a shot toward the net late in the third, and centre Auston Matthews deflected the puck toward a teammate, but it went into the Isles' net off defenceman Nick Leddy at the teams were tied at three goals apiece with 3:29 left in regulation.
Overtime solved nothing, so the contest extended to a shootout, and the Leafs were 5-1 in that department prior to the game. Centre Tyler Bozak scored on Toronto's first attempt, and Andersen stopped Eberle, Barzal and centre John Tavares to give the Leafs their eighth consecutive win at home and their third victory in a row.
Toronto will have a day off Friday before welcoming the Boston Bruins to town for a Saturday night tilt that promises to be an emotional, hard-fought affair. The Atlantic Division and Original Six Rivals are now just a single point apart in the standings (although Boston has five games in hand), and a Leafs win will vault them into the second spot in the division and atone for a 4-1 loss to the Bruins in Boston Feb. 3rd. To say this one will be a must-watch is an understatement.
