Engvall’s Late Goal Propels Islanders to Victory Over the Maple Leafs

In one of two games on Monday evening, the New York Islanders traveled to Scotiabank Arena to face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they begin the second half of the NHL season. With the trade deadline imminent and the playoff push starting to heat up, the two squads were looking to start the stretch run on a good note. Ultimately, a late third-period goal by winger Pierre Engvall propelled the Islanders to a 3-2 victory over the Maple Leafs. With the win, the Islanders broke a three-game losing skid and improved to 21-17-12 for 54 points, as they sit four points behind the second wild-card team in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the loss for Toronto dropped them to 25-15-8 for 58 points, as they maintain the first wild-card spot in the conference. Let’s take a look at how the Islanders came away with the last-second victory. 

The Islanders would take a 1-0 lead at 10:31 of the first period, as center Mathew Barzal knocked in a rebound from the slot with goalie Ilya Samsonov out of position. With 50 seconds passed in the second period, winger Mitch Marner would even it up at 1-1 for Toronto, as Marner scored on a high shot during a 4-on-4. At 2:50, the Islanders would retake a 2-1 lead, as rookie Kyle MacLean scored on a breakaway after leaving the penalty box for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. In the third period, at 15:12, captain John Tavares would capitalize on a power-play opportunity to tie the game up at 2-2 for the Maple Leafs, as he deflected a shot from Morgan Rielly into the net. However, with two minutes remaining in regulation, Pierre Engvall would score the go-ahead goal for New York to hand his team a 3-2 victory over Toronto. 

In his first game back in Toronto, Engvall’s game-winning goal came after being traded by the Maple Leafs to the Islanders last season. Engvall had played with the Maple Leafs from 2019-23, where he played in 226 games. In the victory, goalie Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves on 37 attempts for the Islanders. In the loss, Maple Leafs’ goalie Ilya Samsonov recorded 26 saves on 29 attempts, with the Engvall goal being the dagger for Samsonov and Toronto. Following the victory, the Islanders will look to build on their performance, as they begin a four-game homestand on Thursday against Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs will aim to bounce back on Wednesday night against the Dallas Stars.