NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs 3 NY Islanders 4 OT recap and considerations

1st Period

The 1st period has been a very balanced and uncharacteristic low scoring period between those 2 teams, there weren't so many scoring chances and this is the result of an hard forechecking and a good intensity by both teams. Toronto has been more propositive than NY even thanks to the PPs that they had, the shoot count has been nearly the same but there were just 3 of them that have been dangerous for goalies, 1 the Bozak's shot that missed and in easy goal from the goal crease, 2 a Visnowski's one that hit the post and came close to fell behind the Halak's shoulders, 3 the Booth's shot that resulted in the only goal of the period with a perfect back hand execution on a breakaway that left no chance to the Isles' goalie.

2nd Period

Trailing by 1 goal the Isles got the control for the majority of the time of this period but they haven't been able to be dangerous due to the Toronto's safe strategy, in fact they had just a pair of chances in front of the net but Bernier has been attent, the Maple Leafs scored another goal and this time happened when the Isles where in the attack mode, this let them score another breakaway goal with Holland who shot in the net a rebounded puck off a Panik back hand shot.

3rd Period

Finally the game took off in this period with a very inspired Tavares who changed the game in favor of his team with his awesome playmaking skills and after a good start of the period for them with the Kennedy's goal very well assisted by his captain with a spectacular pass behind the back but the home team reacted and after 5 minutes regain the 2 goals lead with a break away goal by Van Riemdsyk due to a bad Isles' turnover but since that point it has been all Islanders hockey with 2 back to back goals scored by Nielsen and Cizikas. This period has been the most spectacular one with both teams playing their typical style of hockey.

O.T.

The Isles completed their comeback with an amazing John Tavares' goal in OT that gave them the W after a personal effort that fooled the entire Maple Leafs' defense.

MY 3 stars of the game: 3 Van Riemdsyk, 2 Kennedy, 1 Tavares.