Mathew Barzal logs 3 assists as Islanders down Maple Leafs
Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist Tuesday night as the visiting New York Islanders defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1.
Brayden Schenn and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, who have won four of five. Mathew Barzal posted three assists, and Ilya Sorokin stopped 26 shots.
Steven Lorentz scored for the Maple Leafs, who are 2-1-1 in the past four games. Joseph Woll made 31 saves.
The Islanders struck for two power-play goals in the first period.
Schenn scored his first goal since being acquired by the Islanders, connecting from the right circle after Ritchie's nifty backhand pass at 4:15. Nicholas Robertson was off for slashing.
Ritchie jammed in his own rebound from the edge of the crease at 9:43, nine seconds after Brandon Carlo was penalized for high-sticking.
New York's Bo Horvat hit the left post with a shot from close range at 1:30 of the second period following a Toronto turnover.
Toronto's forechecking resulted in a goal at 4:40 of the second period. Lorentz scored from the right circle to snap a 29-game goalless drought.
Heineman converted Tony DeAngelo's diagonal pass from the left point with a blast from the right circle at 11:57 of the second to restore New York's two-goal lead.
The Islanders bottled up the Maple Leafs in the much of the third period, making it difficult for Toronto to mount a rally. Max Domi did test Sorokin at 14:12 of the third.
The Islanders went on a four-minute power play at 14:57 of the third. They did not score despite taking four shots on goal, but they controlled the puck as they buzzed around the Toronto net. Late in the power play, Woll was removed for an extra attacker.
Islanders 18-year-old star defenseman Matthew Shaefer grew up near Toronto, and he had a large contingent of friends and family at the game, estimated to be nearly 1,000. He recorded an assist.
The Maple Leafs, once known as the St. Patricks, wore white and green uniforms.
The Islanders earned a 4-3 home win over the Maple Leafs in overtime on Jan. 3.