Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN+, MSG Sportsnet (Islanders regional), Sportsnet/RSN (Leafs regional)
The Islanders and Maple Leafs meet for the second time this season after Toronto took a 2-1 decision in the Islanders’ season opener on September 30. Both clubs enter with uneven early records and are looking to build momentum.
Current Rosters / Key Personnel
Islanders: Bo Horvat (captain, strong early production), Matias Maccelli (point streak), Kyle Palmieri, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Logan Stanley, Matthew Schaefer, and goaltenders Ilya Sorokin (probable) or Semyon Varlamov.
Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews (team scoring leader), William Nylander, Kirill Marchenko (recent hat trick), John Tavares (day-to-day), Nick Paul, Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, and goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky (probable) or Anthony Stolarz.
Injury Reports
Islanders:
Mathew Barzal (knee) — out / IR (skating on his own; no firm timeline, expected to miss at least this game).
Alexander Romanov (knee/ACL) — out long-term (surgery, 6–8 months).
Maple Leafs:
John Tavares (undisclosed/lower body) — day-to-day (left Thursday’s game).
Chris Tanev (upper body) — out / IR (week-to-week).
Miles Wood (undisclosed) — out / IR.
Max Domi (back) — out / IR.
Dakota Joshua (abdomen) — out / IR.
Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder) — out long-term.
Both teams are missing significant pieces, especially Toronto’s depth up front and on defense, while the Islanders are without their top playmaker and a key blueliner.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Auston Matthews / William Nylander / Kirill Marchenko vs. Islanders defense: Toronto’s top scorers face a structured Islanders group missing Romanov. Matthews has been productive early; Marchenko’s recent hat trick adds firepower.
Bo Horvat / Matias Maccelli vs. Leafs structure: Horvat leads the Islanders in early scoring; Maccelli has a multi-game point streak. They will test Toronto’s penalty kill and defensive pairings (Rielly, McCabe).
Special teams: Toronto’s power play has been strong early (~29%); Islanders have been solid on the penalty kill. Faceoffs and neutral-zone play will matter in a tight Atlantic/Metropolitan style matchup.
Goaltending: Sorokin (strong early numbers) vs. Bobrovsky (still seeking consistency at home). Both netminders can steal games.
Recent Team Forms
Islanders: 3-3-1 overall (0-2-1 on the road). Alternating results, including a 2-1 shootout loss at Ottawa on Thursday after a home win over Vancouver. Strong defensive metrics early (low goals against) but limited offense without Barzal.
Maple Leafs: 3-3-2 overall. Coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to Buffalo at home after surrendering multiple leads. High-event games, with all losses by one goal. Marchenko’s hat trick provided a spark, but defensive lapses and injuries have hindered consistency.
Series History
Toronto won the season-opening meeting 2-1 on September 30. Historically, recent matchups have been competitive; the Islanders have taken three of the last four overall meetings in some counts, though Toronto holds the early 2026-27 edge. Games often feature tight checking and goaltending battles.
Betting Trends
Toronto’s high-event style and power-play edge support overs in some models, while the Islanders’ defensive structure and road underdog value create interest on the moneyline or puck line. Both teams have been involved in one-goal games frequently.
Game Odds
New York Islanders 6
Toronto Maple Leafs – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, October 16, 2026
