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Stapleton lifts Maple Leafs over Islanders

Feb 27, 2009 - 4:25 AM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- Tim Stapleton netted the decisive goal in the third round of a shootout Thursday, lifting the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders.

Jason Blake also tallied in the bonus format and Vesa Toskala stopped 40 shots before denying one shot in the shootout for Toronto, which won its third straight contest.

Defenseman Ian White scored a goal and set up another while Dominic Moore, blue-liner Pavel Kubina and Nik Antropov netted goals in regulation.

"It was a long night, especially when it's the second night of back-to-back games," Toskala said. "We created lots of chances, but so did they. One thing we need to do is make less turnovers.

"It was a good win. What's been our problem a little bit is holding a lead in the third period. We have to get better with that."

All-Star defenseman Mark Streit and Jon Sim each recorded a goal and an assist and Sean Bergenheim and newly acquired Dean McAmmond also tallied for the Islanders, who began a six-game homestand.

"Other than the slow start and the first two goals, I thought our guys gave a solid effort," New York coach Scott Gordon said. "From my side of it, (the glass) was half full."

In the first round of the bonus format, Frans Nielsen's attempt hit the crossbar and Joey MacDonald stymied Nikolai Kulemin.

Jeff Tambellini then fired a hard wrist shot past Toskala's glove to give the Islanders an early edge but Blake followed with a dazzling sequence, during which he spun in the crease and faked out MacDonald with a backhander to pull the Maple Leafs even.

Toskala poked away the puck before rookie Kyle Okposo even got off a shot in the third set and Stapleton then secured the win with a snap shot.

"The kid's a sniper (Stapleton)," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said. "I'm glad it worked out for him.

"It was an ugly game. Vesa let in a bad goal that tied the game, but he's been playing real well. I think he's gotten points in 10 of his last 11 games. It's goaltending like that that helps when others make mistakes."

White opened the scoring 87 seconds into the first period and Moore scored shorthanded 57 seconds into the second to give Toronto an early lead. However, McAmmond - traded by the Ottawa Senators for Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli six days ago - halved the deficit with 5 1/2 minutes left in the second.

Bergenheim forged a 2-2 tie at 3:30 of the third by wristing the puck past Toskala from the low slot. MacDonald was not able to fend off the Maple Leafs as Kubina and Antropov tallied in a 90-second span shortly thereafter.

"We did a lot of good things, but in the third, we kind of sat back after we got up 4-2," Blake said. "We've got to make sure to find a way to finish games off. It was a great team effort, and Vesa played great."

Streit kept New York's comeback hopes alive with 8:31 remaining in the third, converting a wrist shot for his 12th goal of the season. Sim capped the rally by taking a pass from Streit and unleashing a snap shot from the left faceoff circle with 3:07 left.

"We could have easily been deflated," Gordon said. "We're trying to build something here for next year. As much as I want to win and the team wants to win, our objective is to get better and form our own identity."

The Islanders, which had previously failed to scored three or more goals in a game since January 29, have reached that feat twice in row.