Bobby McMann's two goals, including a decisive tiebreaker late in the third period, propelled the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night. Joseph Woll showcased an impressive performance, stopping 32 shots, marking the Maple Leafs' second win over the Islanders in a week and their third victory in four games.

The lone goal for the Islanders came from Scott Mayfield, while Ilya Sorokin recorded 29 saves, but the team faced their third consecutive loss. A pivotal moment occurred when Adam Pelech was penalized for tripping, leading to a power play opportunity that McMann exploited with just under three minutes left in the game.

McMann initially put Toronto on the board at 10:43 in the second period, but Mayfield equalized shortly before the period ended. Despite a strong push from the Islanders in the final moments, Woll's netminding secured the Maple Leafs' victory.

Bobby McMann's two-goal performance, including a decisive late-game strike, propelled the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night. Joseph Woll was pivotal for Toronto, making 32 saves as they secured their third win in four outings, having previously defeated the Islanders earlier this week.

The game's turning point came when Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech was penalized for tripping, allowing the Maple Leafs to capitalize on the power play, with McMann netting the winning goal just under three minutes from the final buzzer.

Scott Mayfield scored the lone goal for New York, while goalie Ilya Sorokin recorded 29 saves, but the Islanders suffered their third consecutive loss. The Islanders struggled, allowing the opening goal for the twelfth time in fourteen games, reflecting a challenging stretch with a record of 5-8-1 during this period.

The NHL season has seen significant upheaval, with three head coaches already dismissed and others facing scrutiny. This has sparked discussions around the 'new coach bump,' where teams show improvement following a coaching change.

Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks is thriving under new coach Anders Sorensen, recently increasing his scoring output. Similarly, Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres is expected to rebound after a team meeting aimed at boosting morale.

David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins is also anticipated to turn his season around, despite a slow start, as he adjusts to changes in coaching. Meanwhile, the New York Islanders face challenges with their power play and goaltending as they prepare for a matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres remains sidelined, while Petr Mrazek of the Chicago Blackhawks is expected to practice today after being placed on IR with a groin injury. Seth Jones is also recovering from a foot injury, with coach Anders Sorensen noting his progress.

In other updates, Nick Foligno missed a game due to illness, and Anton Forsberg of the Ottawa Senators is injured with no return date set. Mathew Barzal and Adam Pelech returned for the New York Islanders, while Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers is day-to-day.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed Anthony Stolarz on IR, and Ivan Barbashev of the Vegas Golden Knights left a game with an upper-body injury.

Mathew Barzal and Adam Pelech returned to the New York Islanders lineup after extended absences due to injuries, providing a much-needed boost to a team struggling with multiple sidelined players.

Barzal, who missed 21 games, and Pelech, who was out since early November, rejoined the team as they faced the Chicago Blackhawks. The Islanders have also been without goaltender Semyon Varlamov and forward Anthony Duclair, among others, impacting their performance this season.