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Islanders, Maple Leafs try to climb out of last place

Feb 14, 2008 - 1:30 PM NY Islanders (25-25-7) at Toronto (23-26-9) 7:30 pm EST

TORONTO (Ticker) - Both the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to fight their way north in the standings.

The Maple Leafs will look to bounce back from a shutout loss when they host the Islanders on Thursday.

After netting seven goals in a brief two-game winning streak last week, Toronto on Wednesday had no luck solving Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, who stopped 35 shots in a 1-0 win.

The loss left the Leafs with just 55 points in 58 games played this season, one more than the Tampa Bay Lightning (24-27-6), who currently reside in the Eastern Conference basement.

Last in the Atlantic Division, the Islanders picked up a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, keeping them two points ahead of Toronto in the Eastern Conference.

The four goals against the Flyers was New York's best output since a 6-3 win at Carolina on January 22, and ended the club's seven-game losing streak.

The teams have split two meetings this season, with the Maple Leafs earning an 8-1 win here on October 10 and the Islanders picking up a 4-3 overtime victory on December 26.