New York Islanders face Toronto Maple Leafs in a crucial matchup

The New York Islanders face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a must-win game on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.

The Islanders currently sit in last place in the Metro Division tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, a win could catapult the Isles past two teams and into a fifth-place tie. With the division being that close, the Isles have a chance to climb out of the cellar and back into the hunt for a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.

Fans can check out all the action on MSG+, and ESPN+.

LAST GAME

The New York Islanders are coming off a 4-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. The Hurricanes dominated the game, leaving the Isles with little room to maneuver. While the Islanders hung tough throughout the night, they just couldn’t generate any offense. It was a relatively disappointing effort despite the Isles making a late push to get back into the game.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing on back-to-back nights. On Friday night, the Leafs cruised past the Buffalo Sabres with a 6-3 win. Overall, the Leafs are riding a three-game winning streak and look to be heating up after a so-so start.

HISTORICAL MATCHUP

Saturday night’s game marks the first meeting between the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Isles and Leafs have split their last 10 matchups. The Leafs have won four in a row with a big 7-2 win back on March 21, 2023. Last season, the Leafs swept the season series with two 4-3 wins and a 3-2 decision on February 5. The Isles had a four-game winning streak of their own against Toronto dating back to 2020. During the span, the Leafs have outscored the Isles 30-26. However, the Isles had a pair of 3-0 wins back in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mathew Barzal will be in the spotlight as he is expected to generate offense against a stingy Leafs’ defense. Likewise, Maxim Tsyplakov could have a big game as his toughness in front of the net could make life tough for the Leafs’ defenders. Similarly, the Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri duo could be a tough assignment for the Leafs to control. Fans should expect Nelson and Palmieri to have a strong game against Toronto as their speed could be too much to handle for some of the Leafs’ older defenders.

For the Leafs, the Core Four will be worth keeping an eye on. Auston Matthews seems to be getting back into form after missing nine games with an injury. William Nylander leads the team in goals, while John Tavares is having a resurgent season.