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Maple Leafs try to get back on track versus Islanders

Mar 8, 2011 - 4:07 PM (Sports Network) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to bounce back from their first regulation loss in weeks when they visit the New York Islanders tonight at Nassau Coliseum.

The Maple Leafs were handed a 5-3 setback by the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. The loss was the first in regulation for Toronto since Feb. 12, as the Leafs fell to 6-1-3 over their last 10 games.

With 67 points, Toronto is still very much alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race and enter's today trailing Buffalo by five points for the East's final postseason spot. The Maple Leafs have missed the playoffs in each of the past five springs, setting a club record for postseason droughts.

The Islanders are 2-0-2 in their last four games, but they are also seven points behind Toronto in the East standings.

Tonight's test marks the final meeting between Toronto and the Islanders this season. The Leafs have won the last two encounters after dropping the opener of the season series, but New York has still won four of seven overall.

Toronto, which is 14-16-2 on the road this season, has lost six of its last nine games on Long Island.

The Maple Leafs fell behind 3-0 in the first period of Saturday's loss to the visiting Blackhawks. Luke Schenn, Joffrey Lupul and Joey Crabb all lit the lamp for the Maple Leafs, who had a two-game win streak halted.

James Reimer surrendered five goals on just 19 shots in the first two periods before getting pulled. Jean-Sebastien Giguere came in to make six saves in the final 20 minutes.

Reimer is expected to get the start tonight after what was one of the roughest outings of the rookie's brief career. The 22-year-old is 2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average in two appearance against the Islanders, both of which came this year.

The Islanders were dealt a shootout loss Sunday, as Brian Rolston scored in the sixth round of the deciding phase to lift the Devils to the 3-2 win at the Coliseum.

After Matt Martin was stopped by Martin Brodeur, Rolston skated down the middle and moved to the left before snapping the puck past Al Montoya for the win. Montoya made 27 stops in the loss.

Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau each had a goal for the Islanders, who had also won two in a row before Sunday's setback.

"The guys played great in front of me and made it pretty simple," said Montoya. "You've gotta like the effort out there, but it still would have been nice to get the two points."

New York is 2-0-1 so far on a five-game homestand that is set to end Friday against Boston. The Isles are 14-15-5 on Long Island this season.