MAPLE LEAFS NOTES

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing some challenges as they enter Thursday night’s game on the second half of a back-to-back set, having lost their last three games. Their most recent defeat was a 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. Anthony Stolarz started in goal but had to leave the game due to an injury in the first period. Joseph Woll stepped in and made 14 saves on 17 shots, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

William Nylander has been a standout player for the Maple Leafs recently, with 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in his last 10 games. He leads the team with 73 points (26 goals, 47 assists) this season. While he has performed well against the Islanders in the past, he has been unable to score in the last two games against them.

Former Islander John Tavares has been a key player for Toronto, leading the team with 13 points (7 goals, 6 assists) in their last 10 games. Tavares, who spent nine seasons with the Islanders before joining the Maple Leafs in 2018, has accumulated 68 points (30 goals, 38 assists) this year.

Matthew Knies, another top performer for Toronto, was unable to make an impact in the game against the Capitals but had a strong showing against the Los Angeles Kings with four points (2 goals, 2 assists). Knies has 64 points (23 goals, 41 assists) this season.

Both Stolarz and Auston Matthews are dealing with injuries. Stolarz is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, while Matthews suffered a season-ending MCL tear and quad contusion in a game against the Anaheim Ducks on Mar. 12. Despite his absence, Matthews has contributed 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 60 games this season.

With 78 points, Toronto currently occupies the seventh spot in the Atlantic Division and has been eliminated from the 2026 playoff race. Their power-play percentage stands at 20.4%, ranking them 17th in the NHL, while their penalty kill is strong, ranking third in the league with an 82.5% success rate and keeping a clean sheet in the last three games.