ISLES DEFENSE STANDS TALL
The Islanders have compiled a strong defensive start to the season and have allowed three goals or fewer in five of the first seven games.
Excluding the shootout goal against Ottawa, the Isles have allowed 16 goals in seven games. It’s the fewest number of goals allowed in their first seven contests since 2003, according to Islanders statistician Eric Hornick.
That record start is reflected in the way Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov have played as both Isles goaltenders have a goals-against average under 2.00.
The Islanders have a 2.29 goals-against per game, which is the second best in the NHL. The Isles made several critical defensive plays against Ottawa including killing off a 4-on-3 power play in overtime.
The Isles penalty kill went 4-for-4 against the Senators and Matthew Schaefer played 29:29 of time-on-ice, which is the third highest of his career.
SCOUTING THE MAPLE LEAFS
Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to be the starting goaltender for the Leafs who will be without John Tavares. Toronto announced on Saturday that Tavares is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
The Leafs are one of three teams with multiple top 10 point producers across the league. Matthews’ 13 points are tied for fifth and William Nylander has 12 points (5 G, 7 A) which is tied for seventh in the NHL.
The Maple Leafs have gotten key contributions from their young talents Cowan (3 G, 3 A) and 2026 first-overall pick Gavin McKenna (2 G, 3 A) who was benched by head coach Jim Hiller for the final 32:54 against the Sabres.
Toronto is first in the NHL on the penalty kill at 96.2 percent and are fifth best on the power play at 29.6 percent. However, they’ve shown some shakiness 5-on-5 and have given up 30.5 shots per game, which is fourth most in the league.
As a result, they’ve gotten inconsistent goaltending from Sergei Bobrovksy – who made 30 saves in the loss to Buffalo – and Anthony Stolarz. Both goaltenders have a save percentage below .900 and a goals-against above 3.30.