Clarke MacArthur makes overtime winner as Toronto Maple Leafs edge New York Islanders 4-3–NHL Update
New York tried harder this time as they met Toronto for the second straight time in two nights after a shutout loss, but fell down yet again as the Maple Leafs edged the Islanders, 4-3, with an overtime decider on Tuesday night, January 24, 2012, at the
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, United States.
Islanders’ power rookie, John Tavares, who remained shutout as well in their previous matchup, was dedicated to come up and go back to his scoring ways by potting his 20th goal of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season in the
opening two minutes of the first period.
Josh Bailey added the second straight goal for New York to extend their lead to a comfortable, 2-0, nearly midway through the second phase.
"These were two playoff-like games", Maple Leafs’ captain, Dion Phaneuf, said. "They played their game really well and we came back well. We played a pretty solid road game".
Clarke MacArthur rose for Toronto and killed off hopes of New York goalie, Al Montoya, who managed to nearly hold-off the Maple Leafs for the first 40 minutes of game play, but fell short on four shots in the final moments for a total of 17 saves.
Jonas Gustavsson, the Toronto goalie, also did not have it easy as he faced 32 shots and fell short on three.
Jake Gardiner made the equalising shot to give Toronto the momentum to build up on more by adding his first of the season in the opening two minutes of the third while Mikhail Grabovski secured victory with his 16th at the 16:29 mark, or at least
they thought so.
With 13 seconds left to go in regulation before the final buzzer sounded, P.A. Parenteau took off on a breakaway and fired it past Gustavsson for his 10th and forcing an overtime extension.
New York looked fired up entering the extra five minute chance they forced for themselves but as Clarke MacArthur potted his second of the night and the game-winner at the 2:06 mark in overtime.
"We got it going in the last two periods and kept it going into overtime", MacArthur said. "We battled hard".
Maple Leafs have one more on the road against Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, January 31, before returning home, while New York has the next against Carolina Hurricanes the same day.
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