In Toronto, the Maple Leafs played long ball in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders on Monday night.
It seemed every other play form the Maple Leafs zone was tied to a long range breakout pass and shot on the Isles goal.
The Maple Leafs used long passes to get behind the Islanders’ defense all night.
William Nylander hit for a double in the win.
“I’m trying to pick up my game,” Nylander said. “Every night that’s what I’ve been trying to focus on doing, so it’s nice to get that night.”
Ilya Samsonov made 31 saves in the Toronto win.
The Maple Leafs improved to 29-11-8.
Anders Lee, who had a pair of goals for the Islanders, scored in the first period to give them a 1-+0 lead.
The lead lasted into the middle frame when Nylander hit for his first to tie it, 1-1.
John Tavares scored on a breakaway to grab a 2-1 lead to the Maple Leafs, but Lee hit for his second pf the night and 2-2 tie.
“We regrouped well in the locker room, [we] just realized we came out a little flat,” Tavares said. “Their urgency was high, and they were winning a lot of the pucks and we had to get our pace up, win some of those key battles, sustain pressure and tilt the ice. Once that got going, we earned some opportunities.”
New York dropped to the Islanders 23-21-5.
“Situational awareness, individual awareness, that’s it,” New York coach Lane Lambert said. “Three of their goals, penalty kill goal, bad change, [then) a couple guys getting in behind us. Can’t happen. It’s unacceptable.
“I thought our first period was our best period we’ve played certainly this month or one of them anyway and for whatever reason, our details and our awareness cost us tonight.”
The Islanders have lost five straight games,they are 1-6-3 in their past 10.
Toronto scored four times in the second period, Calle Jarnkrok scored on a breakaway for a 3-2 advantage to the Leafs.
“No life, no energy, no pace, no execution,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “What changed? We come in the first intermission, a chance to regroup. I don’t think lots had to be said, other than pointing out the obvious. But it’s on the players; they did the talking, and more importantly came out on the ice way more focused and played with energy right from the drop of the puck [in the second period]. The first shift was excellent, and we didn’t look back from there.”
Nylander hit his second of the period for a 4-2 lead headed to the third period.
“We know we have to string a couple together and get the locker room feeling better and get the ball rolling in the right direction, so we’re just going to keep going at it,” New York’s Kyle Palmieri said. “The start was good, but [we had] some breakdowns and that’s a high-powered offense over there that can finish their chances, and that was the difference.”
Auston Matthews scored off another break in the third for the 5-2 final.
Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves in the Islanders loss.
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