Kampf, Lorentz and Tavares score for Maple Leafs in 3-1 win over Islanders

Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kampf (left) is congratulated by teammates after scoring the Leafs' opening goal as New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson skates past during first-period NHL action in Toronto on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

David Kampf, Steven Lorentz and John Tavares scored to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena.

Joseph Woll made 30 saves as Toronto (23-13-2) moved into a tie with the idle Florida Panthers for top spot in the Atlantic Division standings.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau tallied for the Islanders (14-7-7), who got 22 saves from Ilya Sorokin.

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews sat out for a fifth straight game. He was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day, a move retroactive to Dec. 20 that allowed Toronto to recall defenceman Marshall Rifai.

A team spokesman said Matthews, who returned to practice on Monday, had not experienced any setbacks with his upper-body injury.

Kampf capped a plodding first period with his second goal of the season. William Nylander drew two defenders behind the net, leaving Kampf open for the one-timer.

New York appeared to tie the game early in the second period when Adam Pelech's knuckler from the point beat a screened Woll. The Maple Leafs successfully used a coach's challenge as the play was deemed offside.

Moments later, the Islanders successfully challenged a Toronto goal after Matthew Knies knocked in his own rebound. A video review determined there was goaltender interference.

New York got on the board at 11:59 when Pageau converted a slick pass from Noah Dobson for his ninth goal of the season.

Lorentz restored Toronto's lead just 16 seconds later. He took a pass from Ryan Reaves and turned defenceman Scott Mayfield inside out before notching his fourth goal.

Woll stopped Brock Nelson on a short-handed breakaway late in the third period. Tavares iced the win with an empty-net goal with 34 seconds left.

Maple Leafs forward Pontus Holmberg and defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson sat out due to illness. Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom was a late scratch with an upper-body injury.

Takeaways

Maple Leafs: Woll appeared to be in some mild discomfort after a goalmouth scramble early in the second period but stayed in the game. He missed the first few weeks of the season with a groin issue.

Islanders: Special teams continue to be a problem. New York, which entered with a league-worst power-play percentage of 11.5, was 0 for 1 with the man advantage.

Key moment

Defenceman Chris Tanev blocked a shot in his own end and guided the ensuing breakout that led to Toronto's first goal.

Key stat

The Maple Leafs are 2-3-0 during their captain's latest absence. Toronto was 7-2-0 without Matthews in the lineup in November.

Up next

The Islanders will host the Maple Leafs in the back end of the home-and-home series on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2024.