National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
NY Islanders 5, Toronto 4
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 27, 2014
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
Referees: Dennis LaRue, Kyle Rehman
Linesmen: Brad Kovachik, Jonny Murray
Attendance: 13922

Islanders 5, Maple Leafs 4 (OT): Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky fired a loose puck in the slot past Jonathan Bernier 1:55 into overtime as host New York won its season series against Toronto.

Michael Grabner scored a pair of short-handed goals 48 seconds apart in the first period and rookie Anders Lee tallied twice in the third in his season debut. Evgeni Nabokov made 18 saves for the Islanders, who also defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3 in Toronto on Jan. 7.

Phil Kessel had a goal and an assist while Joffrey Lupul, captain Dion Phaneuf and fellow defensemen Paul Ranger also scored for the Maple Leafs, who are 4-0-2 in their last six visits to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. James van Riemsdyk collected three assists, Tyler Bozak added two and Bernier stopped 30 shots.

Kessel opened the scoring with a shot from the slot 6:53 into the game. Grabner answered exactly nine minutes later, capitalizing on a giveaway by Toronto defenseman Jake Gardiner with Eric Boulton in the box for holding, before putting the Islanders ahead during the same penalty by tapping home a loose puck after Bernier sent an errant pass off blue-liner Morgan Rielly’s skate.

Ranger scored at 8:50 of the third and Phaneuf put Toronto ahead at 11:26 - 86 seconds before Lee forged another tie with a power-play tally. Lupul finished a give-and-go with Nazem Kadri at 13:54, but Lee scored his second of the contest with 2:40 remaining to force overtime.

GAME NOTEBOOK:
Lee, 23, has recorded at least one point in each of his first three NHL games. … Ranger’s goal was his first since Dec. 29. … New York improved to 9-14-8 in its own building but has not won a home game in regulation since Jan. 6.
Top Game Performances
 
Toronto   NY Islanders
James Van Riemsdyk 3 Points Michael Grabner 2
Phil Kessel 1 Goals Michael Grabner 2
James Van Riemsdyk 3 Assists Josh Bailey 1
N/A Power Play Goals Anders Lee 1
N/A Short Handed Goals Michael Grabner 2
Jonathan Bernier .857 Save Percentage Evgeni Nabokov .818
Jonathan Bernier 30 Saves Evgeni Nabokov 18
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Toronto 22 4 0-4 3-4 13 34
NY Islanders 35 5 1-4 4-4 13 27
Upcoming Games
  • NY Islanders will play their next game at home against New Jersey. The Islanders have a W/L % of .348 after a win and .395 after a loss.
  • Toronto will play their next game on the road against Montreal. The Maple Leafs have a W/L % of .576 after a win and .464 after a loss.