Islanders at Maple Leafs
The New York Islanders are in the midst of a red-hot push for the postseason and a date with the ice-cold Toronto Maple Leafs likely will add even more wind in their sails. The Islanders will vie for their fifth straight victory on Wednesday when they visit the Air Canada Centre to face the spiraling Maple Leafs.
Captain John Tavares scored a power-play goal in New York's 2-1 win versus Pittsburgh on Tuesday and looks to continue his dominance against the team from his home province. Tavares has recorded 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 22 career meetings with the Maple Leafs - including a goal and an assist in the Islanders' 6-3 victory on Dec. 29. While the team remained three points behind the second-place Rangers, Toronto tumbled to its sixth straight loss with a 4-3 shootout setback to Buffalo on Monday. P.A. Parenteau didn't compete in that contest - or any in March for that matter - due to an upper-body injury, but the former Islander had an assist in Toronto's 3-1 win over New York on Dec. 27 before scoring two nights later.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus (New York), RSN, TVA (Toronto)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (37-20-7): Defenseman Nick Leddy set up both of his team's goals to increase his assists to five in his last three games and 30 for the season. The 24-year-old Leddy set up one tally in each meeting with Toronto in December and has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in nine encounters with the Maple Leafs. Frans Nielsen also picked up a pair of assists to extend his point streak to three games (one goal, five assists) and had a goal and an assist against the Maple Leafs on Dec. 29.
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (21-33-11): Toronto's tumultuous season took another turn for the worse as defenseman Matt Hunwick told the team's website that he's slated to undergo season-ending surgery for a sports hernia. "It's tough. I didn't sleep real well last night and, no matter how the season is going, you always want to be a part of it," Hunwick said. "You always want to play and never take for granted the opportunity to play in the NHL." The Maple Leafs on Tuesday recalled defenseman Viktor Loov on an emergency basis from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
OVERTIME
1. Toronto C Leo Komarov scored his team-leading 19th goal on Monday, but has yet to tally in eight career meetings with New York.
2. Islanders G Thomas Greiss, who stopped all three shots he faced in relief of Jaroslav Halak on Tuesday, made 30 saves in the most recent meeting with the Maple Leafs to improve to 2-1-0 versus the club.
3. Toronto C Nazem Kadri has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 12 career encounters with New York.