We got a full day ahead of us with 15 games, but to make that feasible, Friday was pretty light. Toronto’s 4-2 victory against Columbus was notable though, in part because John Tavares scored a pair of goals. That boosts him to 26 goals in 38 contests, which ties him with Jeff Skinner for second place in the NHL. It also extended his multi-point streak to five games.
In other words, he’s red hot going into his first meeting with the New York Islanders since he chose the Maple Leafs over them. The contest will be in Toronto, so it won’t have the same kind of emotional impact as a homecoming, but it’s still a very different experience for him. The Islanders made him the face of their franchise when they took him with the first overall pick in 2009 and he spent the next nine seasons with the franchise. He was superb through most of it, but the Islanders were never able to build much around him and the entire era has to be seen as a missed opportunity.
That said, all hope isn’t lost for the Islanders. Even without Tavares, they’ve been respectable this season and are very much in the mix for a Wild Card spot as we approach the halfway point of the season. These are important points for the Islanders and a chance for them to show up their former captain.
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MONTREAL 5 FLORIDA 3
Tomas Tatar scored two goals for the Canadiens. He’s up to 14 goals and 28 points in 38 contests.
Jonathan Drouin netted a goal and registered an assist. He has 12 goals and 32 points in 38 games.
Antti Niemi kicked out 23 of 26 shots last night. He snapped a three-game losing streak, though he still has allowed at least three goals in all of his nine starts this season.
Denis Malgin found the back of the net for Florida. It was his fourth goal and ninth point in 23 contests.
Roberto Luongo stopped 23 of 27 Canadiens shots. He has an 8-7-1 record, 3.07 GAA, and .902 save percentage in 18 starts.
NY ISLANDERS 6 OTTAWA 3
Matt Duchene scored a goal in the losing effort. It was his 15th goal and 37th point in 32 games.
Mike McKenna kicked out 33 of 38 Islanders shots. It’s his fourth straight loss, dropping to 1-4-1 in 2018-19.
Mathew Barzal scored two goals, including the game-winner, and registered an assist. He has seven goals and 32 points in 36 contests.
Josh Bailey had a goal and an assist for the Islanders. That gives him eight goals and 30 points in 36 contests.
Thomas Greiss stopped 14 of 17 shots before being yanked in the second period. Robin Lehner saved all the 10 shots he faced after stepping in.
TORONTO 4 COLUMBUS 2
John Tavares scored twice for the Maple Leafs. That gives him 26 goals and 44 points in 38 games.
Mitchell Marner netted the game-winning goal and registered two assists. He’s up to 13 goals and 53 points in 38 contests.
Nick Foligno scored a goal for the Blue Jackets. He has 10 goals and 20 points in 37 games in 2018-19.
Garret Sparks stopped 27 of 29 shots Friday night. He has a 6-1-1 record, 2.89 GAA, and .910 save percentage in nine contests.
Sergei Bobrovsky saved 25 of 29 Maple Leafs shots. He’s 16-11-1 with a 2.73 GAA and .911 save percentage in 28 games.
