Maple Leafs at Islanders
THE STORY: The Toronto Maple Leafs are used to enjoying the bright lights of Saturday night. Perhaps that's why they've been unusually dismal the night before. Toronto looks to reverse a bizarre trend and go into the holiday break on a winning note as the club visits the New York Islanders on Friday night. The Maple Leafs don't play many games on the final night of the work week, but their recent track record is abysmal. They've won just five of their last 20 games on Friday nights, including back-to-back contests earlier this month. Making things even tougher this time around is the fact that Toronto has lost 17 of its last 22 visits to Long Island. The Maple Leafs come into Friday's tilt having ended a four-game losing skid with a 3-2 victory over the division-rival Buffalo Sabres a night earlier. The Isles will be looking to bounce back from a 4-2 loss to the cross-town Rangers on Thursday, halting a two-game winning streak.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, MSG+2,
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (17-13-4): Three developments had the Maple Leafs feeling satisfied following Thursday's victory. Phil Kessel dug himself out of a mini-slump with his 20th goal, Nazem Kadri potted his first of the season and netminder James Reimer stopped 40 shots to remain unbeaten in regulation at home this season. Toronto will enjoy three days of rest before resuming their four-game, year-ending road trip in Florida against the Panthers.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (11-15-6): The struggles continue for the Isles, who haven't earned a regulation victory since Dec. 6 and continue to lose ground in the tough Atlantic Division. The return of two key players helped soften the blow. Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov made 21 saves in his first start since Nov. 17, while defenseman Mark Eaton saw his first action since suffering a knee injury 13 games ago.
OVERTIME:
1. Toronto will need to be wary of a couple of local products. North York native Matt Moulson has five goals in eight career games against the Maple Leafs, while Mississauga's John Tavares has struck four times in eight games against his hometown team.
2. As good as Reimer has been at home (6-0-3), his road resume has been a disaster. The 23-year-old is 0-3-0 with a 4.25 goals-against average in four appearances away from Toronto.
3. Each of Islanders D Mark Streit's last six points has come on the power play. Streit's last even-strength point came Nov. 17 against the Montreal Canadiens.