National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Toronto 5, NY Islanders 4
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 28, 2013
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
Referees: Marc Joannette, Ian Walsh
Linesmen: Derek Amell, Mike Cvik
Attendance: 9222

Maple Leafs 5, Islanders 4 (OT): Captain Dion Phaneuf scored 1:11 into overtime and Nazem Kadri recorded his first career hat trick to give visiting Toronto the victory in goaltender James Reimer’s return from injury.

Phaneuf picked up a loose puck in the Islanders' zone and fired a shot that trickled past Evgeni Nabokov and into the net after the Maple Leafs squandered a two-goal lead. Kadri's hat trick was the team's first since Joffrey Lupul scored three goals on Nov. 2, 2011.

James van Riemsdyk netted his team-leading 12th goal to give the Maple Leafs a 3-2 lead 90 seconds after Kadri leveled the contest with his second tally of the night. Reimer made 23 saves in his first start since straining his MCL on Feb. 11.

Kyle Okposo recorded a tally and two assists while Josh Bailey and defensemen Lubomir Visnovsky and Andrew MacDonald scored their respective first goals of the season. Nabokov stopped 23 shots for the Islanders, who fell to 2-8-1 at home.

With New York trailing 4-2 in the third period, MacDonald blasted a slap shot from the right faceoff circle past Reimer. Okposo then tied the game midway through the period with his first goal in 19 games.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kadri’s third goal was his best of the night. He gained the zone along the right-wing boards with six minutes remaining in the second period and cut toward the net. He split between Visnovsky and Matt Moulson just below the right faceoff dot before chipping the puck past Nabokov while falling to his knees. … New York RW Michael Grabner, who has seven goals this season, was awarded a penalty shot late in the first period with the score tied 1-1 as he was hooked by Phil Kessel during a breakaway. Grabner missed the net on his attempt, leaving him with just two goals in his last 12 games. … No penalties were assessed in the game - a first for both teams this season.
Top Game Performances
 
Toronto   NY Islanders
Nazem Kadri 3 Points Kyle Okposo 3
Nazem Kadri 3 Goals Kyle Okposo 1
Mark Fraser 2 Assists Kyle Okposo 2
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
James Reimer .852 Save Percentage Evgeni Nabokov .821
James Reimer 23 Saves Evgeni Nabokov 23
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Toronto 28 5 0-0 0-0 0 26
NY Islanders 27 4 0-0 0-0 0 33
Upcoming Games
  • NY Islanders will play their next game at home against Ottawa. The Islanders have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .333 after a loss.
  • Toronto will play their next game at home against New Jersey. The Maple Leafs have a W/L % of .417 after a win and .778 after a loss.