Islanders Finish 2024 vs. Maple Leafs: Injury Updates, Lines & Notes

Can the Islanders enter 2025 feeling good about themselves?

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Dec 31, 2024

Before the calendar turns to 2025, the New York Islanders (14-16-7) wrap up 2024 on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs (22-13-2).

Puck drop at Scotiabank Arena is set for 1:00 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.

The Islanders defeated Toronto in their first meeting 6-3 on Dec. 21. The Islanders got timely goals throughout the contest, including a pair from Bo Horvat, to come away with the win.

The Maple Leafs were without star forward Auston Matthews that night, and he will not be in the lineup again on Tuesday due to an upper-body injury. Matthews skated on Monday but will miss his fifth straight contest.

LINEUP UPDATES:

For the Islanders, forward Simon Holmstrom is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Pierre Engvall will draw back in and skate on the fourth line.

For the Leafs, forward Auston Matthews won’t play for a fifth straight game. Forward Pontus Holmberg and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson won’t play due to illness.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Lee-Barzal-Pageau

Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri

Cizikas-Horvat-Duclair

Engvall-MacLean-Fasching

Romanov-Dobson

Pelech-Pulock

George-Mayfield

Sorokin

Hogberg

WHO’S HOT:

Anders Lee impressed in the home-and-home against the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring three goals across the two games. He leads the Islanders in goals with 16 and had a pair of helpers the last time the Islanders played the Maple Leafs.

Anthony Duclair was kept scoreless on Sunday after recording points in his first three games since returning to the lineup, but he has points in four straight appearances against Toronto. The forward has a goal and four assists for five points in that span.

Mathew Barzal has dominated the Maple Leafs in recent memory, owning a six-game point streak against them entering Tuesday’s game. He has three goals and six assists for nine points in that span, including a four-point game on Jan. 11.

Horvat and Lee are tied for the lead in goals among active Islanders against the Maple Leafs with nine. However, Horvat leads in assists and points against them, owning 13 and 22, respectively.

After getting a much-needed off day on Sunday, Ilya Sorokin will return between the pipes against the Maple Leafs. He earned the win in the front end of the back-to-back with Pittsburgh, making 22 saves on 25 shots. Against Toronto, he is 6-3-0 with a 2.88 GAA and .917 SV% in nine career matchups, most recently making 26 saves on 29 shots in a win in their last meeting.

OPPONENT’S NOTES:

Mitch Marner comes into Tuesday’s game on an eight-game point streak. The forward has three goals and nine assists for 12 points in that span, including a hat trick against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. He also has points in his last five games against the Islanders, boasting two goals and three assists in that stretch.

John Tavares has also been hot as of late, tallying points in seven straight contests. The former Islanders captain has six goals and six assists for 13 points in that span, tallying a hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres.

William Nylander had a pair of goals in their last matchup, giving him an average of nearly a point per game in his career against New York. In 22 career matchups, he has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points.

Max Pacioretty leads the active Maple Leafs roster in goals and points against New York with 12 and 23, respectively. Nylander’s 12 assists against the Islanders are the most among Toronto skaters.

Joseph Woll is projected to start Tuesday’s game for the Maple Leafs. He won his last time out against the Washington Capitals, making 23 saves on 25 shots. Woll’s faced the Islanders twice in his career, going 1-1-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .906 SV% in those games, most recently letting up five goals in a loss.