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Jason Blake Nets Game Winner In Maple Leafs 3-2 Win Over Islanders
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Jason Blake's tally late in regulation pushed Toronto over the New York Islanders, 3-2, at Air Canada Centre.
Francois Beauchemin and Ian White also lit the lamp for the Maple Leafs, who have won four of their last five. Vesa Toskala stopped 30 shots for the win.
John Tavares posted both goals for the Islanders, who dropped the final three contests of a five-game road trip.
Dwayne Roloson, who made a career-high 58 saves in a 4-3 overtime win in Toronto on November 23, took the loss after allowing three goals on 35 shots.
Blake gave the Leafs a one-goal edge with 4:05 left in the contest. Mikhail Grabovski pressured an Isles defenseman behind the net, and the loose puck slid into the slot. Blake found the puck and his initial shot was stopped by Roloson but he was able to chip the rebound home.
Toronto failed to extend its lead with a power play shortly thereafter, but expertly checked away the final minutes to ice the victory.
Beauchemin’s one-timer from the point on a power play put the Leafs on top 6:03 into the contest, then White’s blast from the left circle put Toronto up by two with 5:20 left in the first.
Toskala maintained the two-goal lead with eight stops through a scoreless second period. But Tavares converted a Kyle Okposo pass for a 5-on-3 power- play goal 1:31 into the third.
Tavares posted another power-play goal, this time with 8:06 left in regulation, to knot the game, 2-2. Okposo again set up the score by finding the rookie alone in front.
Toronto has won four of the last six meetings and three of the last four over New York at home...Tavares has accounted for all four Islander goals in their last two games.
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