McMann scores twice, Maple Leafs edge Islanders

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Bobby McMann scored two goals, including the game-winner with 2:59 left in the third period, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 at UBS Arena on Thursday.

McMann broke a 1-1 tie on the power play when he scored on a rebound from the bottom of the left face-off circle after Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s point shot went off the end boards.

“Scoring in the moment of the game makes it cool,” McMann said after scoring his first power-play goal of the season. “You always want to put the puck in the net, but in a game like that, it feels good.”

Joseph Woll made 32 saves for the Maple Leafs (24-13-2), who have won three of their past four games. Toronto swept the home-and-home set, having won 3-1 at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.

“It was a pretty tight game,” Woll said. “There were different momentum swings in it. And the last couple of times we played these guys, it has been pretty tight. And [I] think [it was] just good by us, staying patient and staying in our structure and getting a big goal at the end there.”

Scott Mayfield scored for the Islanders (14-18-7), who have lost three straight. Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves.

“I think we just need to get better shots on net. The quality of our shots needs to be better,” New York coach Patrick Roy said. “But overall, I wouldn't change anything in our game. I mean, I would love to see the better shots, quality of our shots, that's all. But the guys are working hard. The guys are playing hard.”

Steven Lorenz hit the left post from the high slot for Toronto at 5:58 of the first period.

Later in the period, New York forward Mathew Barzal batted down a clearing attempt near the left hash marks, but Woll then gloved his wrist shot at 15:26.

McMann gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 10:43 of the second period, beating Sorokin to the short side from the left face-off circle. After Toronto forward Max Domi put a reverse hit on Isaiah George in the right corner while playing the puck, forcing the New York defenseman to leave the ice, Nicholas Robertson gathered it in the right circle before finding McMann cutting down the left side.

Mayfield tied it 1-1 at 18:15 when he finished a cross-ice pass from Barzal in the left circle.

Woll got a piece of a Pierre Engvall breakaway attempt from in close with his pad at 2:38 of the third, and New York forward Bo Horvat missed from the left circle on a breakaway at 6:04.

Anders Lee appeared to tie the game from the edge of the crease with 23 seconds left and Sorokin pulled for the extra attacker, but the whistle was blown before the puck crossed the goal line. A review by the Situation Room determined that the puck stopped between Woll’s pads and did not enter the net as a result of a continuous shot.

“I liked our game. I thought we played with a lot of pace tonight,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “It was a hard game. I thought the Islanders were good. I thought they were difficult to play against, but I thought we did a good job. Our goalie was good. The first period, we gave up some chances off three odd-man rushes, and he was there.”

NOTES: Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews missed a sixth straight game with an upper-body injury. He practiced for a second straight day Thursday and could return this weekend; Toronto hosts the Boston Bruins on Saturday and the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. … McMann has four points (three goals, one assist) over his past four games. … Woll has won three straight starts. ... George did not return after the hit from Domi. He entered concussion protocol, but there was no update on his status.