TORONTO — OK, we might have something here.
If this is what the Islanders can do with a healthy forward group, if this is what they can do with physicality and effort every night, if they can roll up the fourth line like they did Saturday against Toronto, then they'll get five points. The gap between the Islanders and the playoffs they started that day will be nothing.
As anyone who knows anything about these islanders knows all too well, this is easier said than done.
Still, this 6-3 victory over the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on the night Anthony Duclair returned to action was one of the Islanders' best 60-minute efforts in recent memory. Ta.
“It might have been the best game of the season, at least I've played,” Matt Barzal said after scoring the win with an empty net.
This was definitely what Lou Lamoriello and Patrick Roy envisioned during training camp. It's a lineup that suddenly looks deep, physical, and offensively skilled, finishing checks and controlling games on the road against high-end opponents.
Yes, the Leafs had played the night before and were without Auston Matthews, but after what has been a miserable two months for the Islanders, forgive them for not heeding those warnings too much. please.
“We know we're a good team,” Duclair said. “Obviously we had some injuries and we never had a full lineup from the beginning of the season. There was a lot of adversity, but the boys stepped up despite the injuries. But now I We're all healthy and ready, so I think we're just trying to find the chemistry across the team.”
The Leafs bounced back from the best early punch the Islanders had thrown in weeks, turning a 3-1 game into a 3-2 game with William Nylander's second goal of the night at 5:43 of the second game. and crossed the border with a two-point difference. The Islanders must maintain the lead to earn points.
Just as Isaiah George, who grew up a Leafs fan 35 minutes away in Oakville, scored his first NHL goal with a shot from the left point and was immediately hugged by all four other Islanders on the ice. they did that.
The goal, which made it 4-2, was also the first for Duclair, who received the primary assist.
But this moment was reserved for the young defenseman, who returned to action Saturday after a healthy injury and has impressed everyone in the organization since being called up in early November. has been given.
“I grew up coming to this rink to watch Leafs games and concerts and things like that,” George said. “It’s also special that my family, friends, all the people who helped me get here are here to watch the game.”
Moments later, Noah Dobson made a shot through traffic to extend the lead to 5-2.
In the end, Barzal found an empty net after fending off a late Toronto attack and scoring from Bobby McMann to cut the lead to two points.
The Islanders have been looking for a 60-minute effort.
The game looked like this, with Bo Horvat and Max Tsyplakov scoring back-to-back goals within the first five minutes, forcing Toronto coach Craig Berube to call an early timeout.
It was the first time in nine games that the Isles had scored first.
They then added another point, Nylander making it 2-1, before Jean-Gabriel Pageau added the extra point before the end of the period.
“I think this win was huge,” Barzal said. “But the actual quality was more important. … I think you saw every line play a good game. Bo's line was obviously dangerous and they scored a ton of goals. Ta [Casey Cizikas’] The line did what they did. my line and [Brock Nelson’s] The line picked up the pace all night. It seems like it was a complete effort. We were all clearly excited to be back. ”
Monday's home win over the Sabers is still needed and a milestone to reach NHL-500 by the holiday break, so there's a healthy amount of skepticism to factor Saturday's performance into the big picture. This shows that attitude is necessary.
But the islanders were finally healthy and finally able to build something. Both have been true for some time.
