Islanders vs Maple Leafs Preview: Schaefer, Ritchie Return Home; Sorokin vs Woll In Toronto
Here's the latest ahead of Islanders vs. Maple Leafs.
TORONTO — The local kids, Matthew Schaefer and Calum Ritchie, and the rest of the New York Islanders (38-24-5) battle the Auston Matthews-less Toronto Maple Leafs (29-27-12).
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM ET on MSGSN.
Schaefer, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, and Ritchie, hailing from Oakville, Ontario, will be playing their first career NHL games in front of their hometown crowds for the first time.
The last time they played Toronto, Schaefer scored twice, including the overtime winner in a 4-3 victory on Jan. 3.
The Islanders, who are coming off a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames, sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division, just two points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins, with the Columbus Blue Jackets on their tail with 15 games to go.
The Maple Leafs’ season has gone a bit differently as they will not be making the playoffs. However, they’re on a three-game point streak (2-0-1).
Ilya Sorokin (24-15-2, 2.52 GAA, .913 SV%, 6 SO) will get the start against Joseph Woll (14-11-5, 3.08 GAA, .905 SV%, 2 SO).
Forward Maxim Shabanov (day to day, lower body) did take part in the Islanders’ optional morning skate but will miss his second straight game.
Here’s the lineup:
Emil Heineman— Bo Horvat — Mathew Barzal
Anthony Duclair — Brayden Schenn — Simon Holmstrom
Anders Lee — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Calum Ritchie
Ondrej Palat — Casey Cizikas — Marc Gatcomb
Matthew Schaefer — Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech — Tony DeAngelo
Carson Soucy — Scott Mayfield
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich
