The Islanders battle the Leafs for the third time this season.
After Mathew Barzal took home a victory at All-Star weekend, his New York Islanders (20-17-12) return from the break against the Toronto Maple Leafs (25-14-8).
Puck drop from Scotiabank Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Forward Pierre Engvall returns to Toronto for the first time since being traded last February.
The Islanders’ last game was on Jan. 27 against the Florida Panthers, ending in a 3-2 overtime loss. The Panthers’ power play scored twice in regulation, starting with Sam Reinhart in the second period; Simon Holmstrom answered late in the period to tie it after two frames. While Matthew Tkachuk’s power play marker gave Florida the lead in the third, Kyle Palmieri came up with a response with under 90 seconds left, forcing the game beyond 60 minutes.
In the extra session, a missed breakaway led to a Florida two-on-one, where Evan Rodrigues connected with Oliver Ekman-Larsson for the game-winner.
Morning Skate Updates:
The Islanders skated at Scotiabank Arena this morning. Updates courtesy of Newsday's Andrew Gross:
Adam Pelech, who was on the receiving end of Brendan Gallagher’s hit against the Montreal Canadiens, returned to the ice on Monday. Injured Islanders Ryan Pulock and Casey Cizikas also skated, with the latter in a non-contact sweater. Pulock and Pelech skated together but are game-time decisions; Cizikas is eligible to return on Thursday.
Ilya Sorokin was in the starter’s crease for New York, as he’ll make his 35th start and 36th appearance of the season (14-12-9, 3.17 GAA, .909 SV%). Monday marks his first start since Jan. 23 against the Vegas Golden Knights; Semyon Varlamov started the final two games before the break after Sorokin made 10-straight starts. Against Toronto, Sorokin is 4-3-0 with a 2.99 GAA and .916 SV5, most recently yielding three goals on 35 shots in a 4-3 overtime win on Jan. 11.
The Maple Leafs skated at Ford Performance Centre on Monday.
David Kampf suffered an injury in the Maple Leafs’ last game before the break and will not be in the lineup on Monday.
Ilya Samsonov left the ice first for Toronto, as he’ll make his 20th start of the season (8-3-6, 3.36 GAA, .878 SV%). Against the Islanders, Samsonov is 6-4-1 in 11 games with a 3.33 GAA and .879 SV%, most recently giving up four goals on 29 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss on Dec. 11.
New York Islanders Lines (Projected):
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Oliver Wahlstrom
Matt Martin - Kyle MacLean - Cal Clutterbuck
Alexander Romanov - Noah Dobson
Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock
Mike Reilly - Scott Mayfield
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
Toronto Maple Leafs Lines (Projected)
Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
Tyler Bertuzzi - John Tavares - William Nylander
Pontus Holmberg - Max Domi - Nicholas Robertson
Noah Gregor - Pontus Holmberg - Ryan Reaves
Morgan Rielly - T.J. Brodie
Simon Benoit - Jake McCabe
Mark Giordano - Timothy Liljegren
Ilya Samsonov
Martin Jones
Islanders Notes
The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs in both of their prior meetings this season, most recently on Jan. 11 at UBS Arena. Kyle Palmieri opened the scoring less than a minute into play, but Bobby McMann tied it up to close the first period. Auston Matthews scored two goals 2:14 apart to open the second, but the Islanders had the answer before the period’s end; Alexander Romanov and Bo Horvat lit the lamp for New York. Nobody broke the stalemate in the third, forcing the game to overtime. In the extra session, Mathew Barzal tipped a Noah Dobson shot to finish a 4-3 comeback victory.
Barzal and Dobson each had four-point nights against Toronto in their last meeting. Following their performances, they each have a four-game point streak against the Maple Leafs. Barzal’s stretch features a goal and six assists in that span, while Dobson has two red lights and nine helpers.
In outright scoring, Dobson owns a five-game point streak entering Monday’s game. Despite not having any goals, the Islanders’ defenseman has nine assists in that span.
Anders Lee leads the Islanders in goals against Toronto's lifetime with nine. Horvat leads in the remaining offensive statistics with 11 assists and 19 points.
Maple Leafs Notes
The Maple Leafs enter Monday’s game on a three-game winning streak, most recently topping the Winnipeg Jets 4-2. Dylan Samberg opened the scoring for the Jets, but Toronto tallied four straight goals. Ryan Reaves tied the affair in the first period, and John Tavares, Auston Matthews, and Simon Benoit put the hammer down in the third. Mason Appleton attempted to start the comeback with 12 seconds left, but that was all the Jets could muster as Toronto pulled out the win.
Barzal’s All-Star teammate, Matthews, was white hot entering the break, riding a six-game point streak; the former Rocket Richard winner has seven goals and three assists in that span. Marner also has points in eight of his last 10 games, totaling five goals and eight assists.
Three of Toronto’s All-Stars lead the Maple Leafs in scoring lifetime against the Islanders. Matthews leads the way in goals with 12 and boasts a five-game point streak against the Islanders with five goals and an assist in that span. William Nylander leads in assists with 11 and is tied for the top in points with Marner at 18. Marner also boasts a three-game point streak against New York with a goal and two assists in that stretch.
Betting Corner:
In their final matchup of the season, the Maple Leafs enter Monday’s game as the favorite at -160 on the money line; New York starts at +135. The over/under starts at 6.5 goals, both equally favored at -110.
All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook.
How To Watch:
Monday’s game will air on MSGSN. On the radio, the contest is available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio and 1050 AM ESPN.