TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME
2023-24 Matchups vs. New York: First of Three
2022-23 Record vs. New York: 1-1-1
Toronto Season Record: 14-6-4
Toronto Road Record: 6-2-3
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The Maple Leafs are scheduled to face-off against the New York Islanders tonight at UBS Arena in the first of three matchups between the clubs this season. Toronto has earned a point in six of their last seven meetings against the Islanders (5-1-1). Entering tonight’s matchup, the Maple Leafs have earned a point in five-consecutive games (4-0-1). The Maple Leafs are skating in a back-toback road series, taking on the New York Islanders tonight and the New York Rangers tomorrow at Madison Square Garden. The Maple Leafs have posted a 1-0-1 record in the first game of a back-to-back.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
December 9, 2023 Defenceman Mikko Kokkonen has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on an emergency basis.
INJURY REPORT
Mark Giordano Week-to-Week (Broken Finger)
John Klingberg LTIR
Timothy Liljegren LTIR (High Ankle Sprain)
Jake Muzzin LTIR
Matt Murray LTIR
Joseph Woll Week-to-Week (High Ankle Sprain)
ALL-TIME VS. NEW YORK ISLANDERS
First Matchup between Clubs: January 10, 1973 (Toronto 4 vs. New York 2)
All-Time Record: 78-69-7-11 (165 Games)
All-Time Record at Home: 45-30-4-5 (84 Games)
All-Time Record on the Road: 33-39-3-6 (81 Games)
Last Road Win vs. Opponent: January 22, 2022 (Toronto 3 at New York 1)
NEW YORK ISLANDERS NOTES:
RECENT TRANSACTIONS & UPDATES
Dec. 8 Ryan Pulock has been placed on IR (lower body). The New York Islanders have acquired Robert Bortuzzo from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the team’s 7th round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft.
INJURIES DATE (GAMES MISSED)
Ryan Pulock Dec. 9 – (One)
2023-24 Man Games Lost: 37
THE ISLANDERS VS. TORONTO
LAST FIVE MEETINGS (2-3-0)
Mar. 21, 2023 UBS Arena W, 7-2
Jan. 23, 2023 Scotiabank Arena L, 5-2
Nov. 21, 2022 Scotiabank Arena W (OT), 3-2
Apr. 17, 2022 Scotiabank Arena L, 4-2
Jan. 22, 2022 UBS Arena L, 3-1
TEAM NOTES
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tonight, the New York Islanders host the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first of three meetings between the two clubs this season. The last time these teams met was March 21, when Cal Clutterbuck, Noah Dobson and Anders Lee each recorded multi-point games in a 7-2 Islanders win at UBS Arena. The Islanders enter tonight’s matchup with a 7-1-2 record in their last ten games, the best in the NHL in that span. They will look to earn points for the sixth straight home game as they play the fourth matchup of their season-long six-game home stand. The Islanders have a 4-0-1 record in their last five games, the third time this season they have collected points in five straight contests. They are also 4-2-1 against Atlantic Division opponents this season (2-0-1 at UBS Arena).
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Islanders have converted on the power play in five of their last six games. Thursday against the Blue Jackets, Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri tallied his fourth power play goal this season, breaking a tie with Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson for the team-lead. Tuesday against the Sharks, the Islanders scored twice on the power play for the third time this season, matching their season-high. They have converted on 34.3% of power plays since November 15 (12-for-35), leading the NHL in that span. The Islanders enter tonight’s matchup with a 24.7% success rate on the power play through 26 games this season, good for sixth in the league and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are 9-for-10 on the penalty kill in their last five games, and 22-for-25 in their last 10 games (88%). The Islanders have scored five shorthanded goals in 26 games this season, one of seven teams to score five or more shorthanded goals so far. In 2022-23, the Islanders recorded six shorthanded goals all season.
SCORING FIRST
The Islanders are 8-2-6 when they score first this season. They have scored first in 16 of their 26 games in 2023-24, and have collected at least one point in 14 of those 16 games. The Islanders have also outscored opponents 25-15 in the first period through 26 games. Their 15 goals allowed in the first frame are second-fewest in the NHL (Boston, 14).
