NY Islanders begin critical road trip with clash against Toronto Maple Leafs

The New York Islanders head north to begin their final multi-game road trip of the season Tuesday night as they face the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

New York arrives in Toronto riding momentum after a 3–2 win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday at UBS Arena. Simon Holmstrom scored twice and Casey Cizikas added another as the Islanders built a three-goal first-period lead. David Rittich stopped 30 of 32 shots to earn his first career win against his former team.

The Islanders continue to thrive in tight contests. Saturday’s victory marked the Isles league-leading 25th one-goal win of the season, leaving them one shy of tying the franchise record set during the 2014–15 campaign.

Special teams have also played a major role in the Islanders’ success. Jean-Gabriel Pageau recorded the primary assist on Holmstrom’s shorthanded goal against Calgary, giving him a league-leading seven shorthanded points this season. As a team, the Islanders rank near the top of the NHL with nine shorthanded goals.

The lineup may look slightly different heading into Tuesday’s matchup. Rookie forward Max Shabanov missed Monday’s practice with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day.

Meanwhile, veteran goaltender Semyon Varlamov made an encouraging appearance during Monday’s practice. The longtime Islanders netminder took shots at the end of the session and was greeted by stick taps and hugs from teammates as he continues his long recovery.

In the standings, the Islanders sit with 81 points, trailing the Pittsburgh Penguins by two points for second place in the Metropolitan Division, while the Columbus Blue Jackets remain close behind.

Toronto enters the matchup coming off a 4–2 win over the Minnesota Wild and has points in three straight games. However, the Maple Leafs will be without star center Auston Matthews, who is out for the remainder of the season with an MCL injury.

The Islanders claimed the first meeting between the teams earlier this season with a 4–3 overtime victory.