Easton Cowan supplied the spark Toronto needed, scoring once and setting up another as the Maple Leafs earned Jim Hiller’s first win behind the bench with a 2-1 decision over the New York Islanders at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
Colton Sissons added a first-period goal, while Anthony Stolarz turned aside 26 shots for Toronto, which rebounded from a 3-2 opening-night loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs are now 1-1-0.
Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves for New York in its season opener. Emil Heineman scored short-handed in the third period, but the Islanders could not find an equalizer and began the season 0-1-0.
Toronto builds an early cushion
Sissons opened the scoring at 7:14 of the first period. Cowan worked the puck free from the corner and sent it to Nick Paul in the slot. Paul’s shot changed direction off Sissons at the edge of the crease and slipped past Sorokin for a 1-0 Toronto lead.
The Maple Leafs doubled the margin on the power play at 11:55. Morgan Rielly held in a clearing attempt at the blue line and moved the puck to Jack Roslovic at the left circle. Sorokin stopped Roslovic’s shot with his left pad, but Cowan was waiting at the far post to bury the rebound.
Toronto finished 1-for-4 with the man advantage and handled all four New York power plays on the penalty kill.
Stolarz closes the door
The Islanders pushed in the third period, and Stolarz delivered the biggest stop before New York got on the board. At 6:42, Anthony Duclair had space beside the net, but Stolarz stretched back with his right pad to deny him.
Heineman finally gave New York life at 14:09, scoring while the Islanders were short-handed. Bo Horvat lifted a saucer pass ahead to Heineman, who beat William Nylander up ice and chipped the puck past Stolarz to make it 2-1.
That was as close as the Islanders would get. Toronto protected its lead through the final minutes, giving Hiller a win in his second game as Maple Leafs coach.
