Will anything go right for the floundering Maple Leafs this season? Two days after knocking off the powerhouse Capitals, the Leafs ran into the hottest goalie in nearly 20 years on Monday night. Dwayne Roloson made 58 saves to give the New York Islanders an overtime win in rookie John Tavares’ return to his hometown, as the Isles dumped the Leafs, 4-3.
For the first half of the game, it was all about the goalies, as Roloson made a number of big saves on Phil Kessel and the rest of the Leafs. Kessel had a total of 12 shots on the game. Roloson made 20 saves in the first, while Toskala turned aside 12 shots in the first 30 minutes or so. The Islanders scored three goals on three consecutive shots in the second period, however, turning a tightly fought goaltenders’ duel into a thirty minute highlight reel.
Jeff Tambellini opened the scoring on a breakaway goal with 9 minutes left in the period. Matt Moulson scored his 11th goal of the year just over a minute later, tipping in Jack Hillen’s shot from the point. Less than two minutes later, Sean Bergenheim scored on a shorthanded breakaway to put New York up 3-0. After the 3rd goal, Toskala removed himself from the game with a groin injury. He has since been placed on injured reserve by the team, along with center John Mitchell who suffered a lower body injury.
The Leafs stormed back into the game quickly, however, as Kessel finally beat Roloson with a one timer from Matt Stajan. In the 3rd, Wayne Primeau and Niklas Hagman both scored, tying the game and setting up a wild finish. The Leafs recorded 23 more shots in the 3rd, with Roloson stopping 21 of them. He made three more big saves in overtime, including an impressive glove save on Hagman’s tip shot in the opening minute of play. With Roloson proving unbeatable in net, the game appeared headed for a shootout, until the Leafs turned the puck over deep in their own end with under a minute to play.
Bruno Gervais picked up the loose puck on the half boards and dished it to the front where Bergenheim was in good position to shoot. Anticipating the shot, Jonas Gustavsson cheated over a bit, while Bergenheim made a beautiful touch pass to Josh Bailey who had nothing to do but tap the puck in a wide open net.
The loss was the Leafs’ seventh overtime loss this season, tied for most in the league, coincidentally with the Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gustavsson will likely start the majority of the games while Toskala remains on IR. Toronto and New York both play Wednesday night – Toronto in Tampa Bay, while the Islanders host Philadelphia.