Leafs start 2025 with a McBang

Bobby McMann scored twice as the Leafs beat the Islanders 2-1 to start 2025.

First Period

We opened the game with a reminder that John Tavares left New York seven years ago, and yet is still getting a chorus of boos.

Early chance for the Islanders.

Back to Tavares, he and Pacioretty powered their way to another pair of chances.

Another moment involving Tavares. Woll had a good start to the game, including this save.

This was the first penalty of the game. A boarding penalty against Cizikas for a hit on Tanev. Knies pushed his way to get a piece of Cizikas. The Leafs missed their only shot on the power play.

After One

No score in the first period. The Leafs had the edge in shots 23-20, but the pucks that got on net were much lower (11-8).

Second Period

Domi with a reverse elbow on Isaiah George.

1-0

With George skating the bench to eventually leave the game, and two of the Islanders forwards going for a change as well, Cizikas had the responsibility to hold the puck while his teammates changed. Wires got crossed and Cizikas thought some one was behind him, but nope. Robertson took the puck, found a wide open McMann, and Bobby scored his 11th goal of the season.

Knies and Kämpf with some chatting after the whistle.

Domi with a childish tripping penalty after he got trapped in the corner and gave the puck away.

Red in the neck, Domi tried to get Fasching and Mayfield to fight to maybe make up for his mistake. Neither helped him.

Another of Woll's saves.

A pass from Dobson hit Lorentz's skate while Lorentz was coming on and Dewar was coming off. Unfortunately, that's a penalty because it could create an unfair advantage depending where the puck goes.

1-1

Scott Mayfield scored in the last two minutes of the period to tie the game. Marner didn't have a stick on the play and the right flank was too open to stop a chance like that.

After Two

Shots were even at evens, but accounting for the two penalties the Leafs took, shots were 27-21 for the Islanders. Whatever minor advantage the Leafs had in the first period, the Islanders had in the second. The Leafs still had a three shot advantage after two.

This game was overall very buttoned down and muted.

Third Period

Engvall with a big chance here.

MacLean took a clearing shot to the face.

McMann with a risky tripping penalty midway through the third in a tie game. Woll was sharp, and kept the Leafs in the very low scoring game.

Nylander stole the puck in the neutral zone from Barzal and had a big chance. His rebound came to Knies and he nearly buried it to break the tie.

Myers got tripped by Pelech and the Leafs got a power play with less than five minutes left in the game. Not much was able to happen in the first minute. On the second unit, Marner gave a great pass to Domi, who passed on the wide open net. He and Marner then overpassed a bit more. Then Domi and McMann got switched...

2-1

Bobby McMann with his second goal of the game and the Leafs got ahead!

The Islanders wanted to score after the whistle blew, but after a review it was turned down. Lee smacked Woll's stick after the whistle blew, knocking the puck into the net after the fact. Woll had the puck covered and the puck had stopped moving.

I guess another arrow in the quiver of hating Toronto.

Leafs win by a score of 2-1 for their fourth consecutive road win!

The next Leafs game is this Saturday night against the Boston Bruins. See you then!