Pierre Engvall’s late goal sees Islanders past Maple Leafs, 3-2

In a thrilling matchup, the New York Islanders secured a 3-2 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Pierre Engvall sealing the win with a late goal at Scotiabank Arena. Former Maple Leafs forward Engvall, traded a year ago, made a triumphant return, scoring the decisive goal on a rebound.

Adding to the excitement, 24-year-old Islanders rookie Kyle MacLean, son of former New Jersey Devils sniper and current Islanders assistant coach John MacLean, notched his first NHL goal in his sixth game. His goal in the second period gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead.

Islanders coach Patrick Roy shared a lighthearted moment, mentioning John MacLean’s reaction to his son’s goal. The win leveled Roy’s coaching record at 2-2-1 and snapped the Maple Leafs’ three-game winning streak.

Mathew Barzal contributed to the Islanders’ success with a goal, while goalie Ilya Sorokin made an impressive 35 saves. Toronto’s captain, John Tavares, managed to tie the game with a power-play goal in the third period, redirecting a shot from Morgan Rielly. Mitch Marner also scored for the Maple Leafs.

Despite outshooting the Islanders 37-29, Toronto faced a missed opportunity early in the third period when Auston Matthews hit both posts with a shot. Ilya Samsonov, making his fourth consecutive start for the Maple Leafs, made 26 saves.

The second period saw the Islanders on the power play, which they lost due to a fight between Bo Horvat and Maple Leafs defender Simon Benoit. Marner capitalized on a four-on-four situation, scoring his 21st goal of the season with an assist from Tavares and extending Matthews’ point streak to seven games.

Shortly after, the Islanders regained the lead when Kyle MacLean, emerging from the penalty box after serving an extra minor to Horvat, received a breakaway pass from Cal Clutterbuck.

Reflecting on his achievement, MacLean expressed gratitude for the journey and the belief that hard work pays off. His father, John MacLean, who played 18 NHL seasons and won a Stanley Cup with the 1994-95 Devils, remained calm after his son’s goal, hinting at a special moment on the charter flight home.

As the Islanders gear up for a four-game homestand against Tampa Bay, the Maple Leafs will host Dallas in their next matchup on Wednesday. The clash between these two competitive teams has undoubtedly provided hockey fans with an unforgettable night of skillful plays and emotional moments.