GDT: #63| Toronto Maple Leafs @ New York Islanders | February 28th | 7:00 PM | F/W 6-1

MattMartin · Feb 28, 2019

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Game Preview: Maple Leafs At Islanders

SEASON SERIES: NYI LEAD 1-0-0

The Islanders shut out the Maple Leafs 4-0 in the team's first meeting this season in Toronto on Dec. 29. Mathew Barzal recorded a natural hat trick while Robin Lehner made 36 saves for the shutout.

ISLANDERS NOTES

- The Islanders are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. The game was tied 1-1 entering the third period, but the Flames scored twice in a 1:57 span to break open the game. The Islanders finished the season 0-2-0 against the top team in the Western Conference.

- As a result, the Islanders cancelled Wednesday's practice, as Head Coach Barry Trotz opted to give his team a day of mental rest. The Isles used the day to go over video instead and will be on the ice Thursday morning.

- The Islanders and Washington Capitals are tied atop the Metropolitan Division with 79 points apiece, with the Isles holding two games in hand. The Islanders are five points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins (74 points).

- The Islanders are playing their sixth straight game against a Canadian opponent. The Isles are 2-2-1 through five games.

- Thursday's game is the second of fight straight game at NYCB Live. The Islanders are 6-2-2 at the Coliseum this season.

- Thursday's game is also the first of a back-to-back set for the Islanders, who host the Washington Capitals on Friday night at the Coliseum. The Isles are 6-3-1 in the first half of back-to-backs this season and are 9-0-1 in the second half.

- Andrew Ladd and Thomas Hickey both returned to the Islanders lineup on Tuesday vs Calgary after missing several months with injuries. Ladd recorded an assist while Hickey logged 14:48 TOI on a pair with Devon Toews.

MAPLE LEAFS NOTES

- The Maple Leafs (82 points) are third in the Atlantic Division, 20 points back of the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning (102 points), and are essentially jockeying with the Boston Bruins (83 points) for second in the division.

- Toronto is the second-highest scoring team in the Eastern Conference with 227 goals this season (3.60 per game).

- The Maple Leafs have won three straight games, most recently beating the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 on Wednesday. The Leafs are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

- Garret Sparks will start in goal for the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Sparks is 7-4-1 this season with a 2.86 GAA, a .908 SV% and one shutout. Sparks was the goaltender in the team's first meeting, allowing four goals on 28 shots.

- Mitch Marner leads the Leafs with 74 points (22G, 52A) this season. John Tavares leads the Leafs with 36 goals and is second with 68 points. Auston Matthews has 59 points (30G, 29A) in 49 games this season.

- Morgan Reilly is second among all NHL defensemen with 61 points (15G, 46A) in 63 games this season. Reilly's 15 goals and 61 points are both career-highs.

TAVARES RETURNS TO LONG ISLAND

The Islanders main focus on Thursday is trying to secure two points against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, but it's impossible to ignore John Tavares' return to Long Island.

Tavares is playing his first game back on Long Island since leaving for Toronto in free agency after nine seasons with the club. Tavares recorded 621 points (272G, 349A) in 669 games with the Islanders, leaving as the fifth-leading scorer in team history. It's an occasion that has certainly been marked on many calendars by fans and media alike.

"Obviously it'll be an emotional night for John and for a lot of people who have been on the Island for a while and Islanders fans," said Head Coach Barry Trotz, who compared Tavares leaving in free agency to himself leaving Washington. "From our standpoint we just need to, plain and simple, win a hockey game against a very good team probably on a very emotional night."

The Islanders said they've moved on from Tavares' free agency decision, especially after the first meeting back in December that the Isles won 4-0, so Thursday's game may be more about the fans, who are coming face-to-face with the former captain for the first time. Much like any breakup, sports or otherwise, the best revenge is living well and the Islanders are certainly doing that as they lead the Metro Division with 79 points.

"We've kind of already had that game," Islanders captain Anders Lee said. "As players, it's already been there, done that and we've moved on a long time ago. We have a special group in here that's done a lot of things together. All the outside stuff is going to happen. For us, we just need the two points."

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Starting Goalies:

Garret Sparks

Sparks will start against the Islanders on Thursday.

Goalie Stats
Player	GP	GS	W	L	T	OT	SA	GA	GAA	S	Sv%	SO	MIN
Frederik Andersen	46	46	30	13	0	3	1,525	118	2.59	1,407	.923	1	2,735
Garret Sparks	13	12	7	4	0	1	382	35	2.86	347	.908	1	736