NHL Game Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs @ New York Islanders with Line Combinations 1/2/2025

Auston Matthews #34 skating for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs (23-13-2, 48 pts) at New York Islanders (14-17-7, 35 pts)

Venue: UBS Arena
Date: Thursday, January 2
Time: 7:30 pm EST
TV: ESPN+ / Sportsnet / Disney+ / Hulu
Radio:
Toronto Maple Leafs – Sportsnet 590 AM The FAN
New York Islanders – WRHU 88.7 FM / 103.9 FM LI News Radio

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 ML -115
New York Islanders +1.5 ML -105
O/U 5.5

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Toronto Maple Leafs News & Notes:

Auston Matthews went through a full practice yesterday, but there is still no timetable for his return. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs beat the Islanders 3-1 on New Year’s Eve and will now get a chance to sweep the home-and-home tonight on the Island. Toronto is 8-6-2 on the road and is looking to extend a three-game road winning streak.

New York Islanders News & Notes:

The Islanders sit in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division and are 7-8-2 at home this season. New York has lost two in a row and is 4-6-0 in their last ten games as they try to climb back into playoff contention. This is the third and final meeting between these teams this season, and the season series is tied 1-1.

Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines:

Pacioretty-Tavares-Marner

Knies-Kampf-Nylander

McMann-Domi-Robertson

Lorentz-Dewar-Reaves

McCabe-Tanev

Rielly-Myers

Benoit-Ekman-Larsson

Woll

Hildeby

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New York Islanders Projected Lines:

Lee-Barzal-Pageau

Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri

Cizikis-Horvat-Duclair

Engvall-MacLean-Fasching

Romanov-Dobson

Pelech-Pulock

George-Mayfield

Sorokin

Hogberg

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Players To Watch:

Toronto Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner has paced the Toronto attack this season, and since Matthews’ absence, the shifty winger has taken his game to another level. The Markham, Ontario native carries a nine-game point streak into tonight’s action. Marner has 13 points (3g, 10a) over that span.

New York Islanders

Anders Lee leads the Islanders in goals (16) and points(30) as he continues to lead the offense. The Edina, Minnesota native is on pace for his first 30-goal season since he had back-to-back 30+ goal seasons in 16-17 and 17-18. The rugged winger has done most of his damage at even strength, as Lee only has five powerplay points on the season.

Injury Report:

Toronto Maple Leafs

G Anthony Stolarz – IR

C Auston Mathews – IR

C Calle Jarnkrok – IR

New York Islanders

D Mike Reilly – IR

G Semyon Varlamov – IR

Next Game:

Toronto Maple Leafs – January 4 vs. Boston Bruins

New York Islanders – January 5 vs. Boston Bruins

Season 4. Episode 19. Mark Divver – Bruins Benders Podcast

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