Maple Leafs 3, Islanders 1
NEW YORK -- Goaltender Jonathan Bernier stopped 25 shots, and the Toronto Maple Leafs made two quick second-period goals stand up in a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders on Sunday night at Barclays Center.
Center Tyler Bozak, left winger James van Riemsdyk and former Islanders left winger Michael Grabner scored 1:40 apart for the Maple Leafs, who have won three of four and are 5-1-2 in their past eight games.
Bernier earned just his third win in 15 games for Toronto (13-14-7).
Islanders left winger Nikolay Kulemin scored his third goal of the season.
New York goaltender Thomas Greiss made 35 saves.
The Islanders (19-12-5) lost for the fourth time in five games.
The teams will complete their home-and-home series in Toronto on Tuesday.
Bozak took advantage of a fortunate bounce to give the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead 1:33 into the second period. Defenseman Roman Polak joined the rush, drove the net and slipped a backhand shot wide of the net. The puck took a lively carom off the backboard right to Bozak, who buried a quick shot for his ninth goal of the season.
Less than two minutes later, Grabner put the Maple Leafs on top 2-0. Defenseman Morgan Rielly's point blast was stopped by Greiss, but the puck fell right to Grabner, who slammed the rebound home for his fifth goal of the season.
The Maple Leafs dominated the second period, outshooting the Islanders 16-6.
Kulemin cut the lead in half with 7:30 remaining in regulation. He screened Bernier and deflected a shot from the point by defenseman Nick Leddy for his first goal in 30 games to make it a 2-1 game.
Islanders coach Jack Capuano pulled Greiss for an extra attacker with about 90 seconds remaining. Van Riemsdyk iced the game by scoring an empty-net goal with 45.3 seconds remaining. He finished a play that started with center Nazem Kadri clearing the puck softly to allow van Riemsdyk to skate to it and score.
NOTES: Maple Leafs G James Reimer was in uniform after missing seven games with a groin injury. He dressed as the backup to G Jonathan Bernier. ... Maple Leafs D Frank Corrado was a healthy scratch. ... Maple Leafs LW Michael Grabner played in his first game vs. the Islanders since being traded by the club in September. Grabner spent the previous five seasons with New York. ... Islanders RW Kyle Okposo was in the lineup after missing the previous two games with a lower-body injury. He took the place of RW Steve Bernier, who was a healthy scratch. ... Islanders G Jaroslav Halak was out with an upper-body injury.