(Sports Network) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will attempt to build off an
impressive victory in Pittsburgh, as they return home Thursday to battle the
New York Islanders at Air Canada Centre.
The Maple Leafs used a strong performance from James van Riemsdyk en route to
a 5-2 rout of the Penguins on Wednesday. Van Riemsdyk netted two goals and one
assist to spoil the home opener at CONSOL Energy Center.
Van Riemsdyk, the second overall pick of the 2007 draft, was acquired from
Philadelphia last June for defenseman Luke Schenn. The former Flyer had gone
without a point in his first two games with Toronto before breaking out in
Pittsburgh.
"It's always nice when you have a conversation with a player and he comes out
and scores two goals and has a three-point night," Leafs head coach Randy
Carlyle said about his budding star. "It wasn't to criticize the player; he
understood it. It's not like he's been terrible, it's just that he needed to
step up his game."
Clarke MacArthur, Mikhail Grabovski and Tyler Bozak also tallied for the Maple
Leafs, who were coming off a 2-1 home loss to Buffalo on Monday.
Nikolai Kulemin added three assists to back a 28-save performance from James
Reimer, who was making his first start of the season. Ben Scrivens could be
back in net for Toronto on Thursday.
The Islanders have been idle since posting a home win over Tampa Bay on Monday
and Thursday's test marks the start of a five-game road trip for the club. New
York was 17-19-5 as the road club in 2011-12.
After beginning the season with a 2-1 setback to visiting New Jersey, the
Isles were able to post a 4-3 win over the Lightning.
Michael Grabner, Matt Martin and Kyle Okposo all scored during a three-goal
second period and New York led 4-0 early in the third period before Tampa
mounted a comeback. The Lightning scored three times in a span of 5:38, but
New York ultimately was able to hold on for the win.
David Ullstrom also scored and John Tavares notched two assists for the
Islanders, who registered their first win of the young season with head coach
Jack Capuano back behind the bench. Capuano missed New York's 2-1 loss to New
Jersey in Saturday's opener after undergoing surgery to treat a kidney stone.
The Islanders outshot the Lightning by a 44-26 count, with Evgeni Nabokov
stopping 23 shots to pick up the win despite surrendering three goals in the
third period.
"I thought it was a total team effort today," said Capuano. "I give credit to
our guys. We distributed the minutes well today. We matched up well throughout
the game. A lot of guys stayed with it, and a lot of guys played key minutes
in key roles tonight."
Nabokov has started both games for the Isles over Rick DiPietro and could get
the call again on Thursday.
The Maple Leafs won three of four matchups against the Isles in 2011-12 and
have taken five of seven overall in this series. Toronto has won five of the
last eight encounters at Air Canada Centre.
The Sports Network