Bo Horvat records a goal and assist as Islanders beat Maple Leafs 4-1 at Scotiabank Arena

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Bo Horvat produced a goal and an assist as the New York Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. New York improved to 4-3-1 while Toronto fell to 3-4-2, continuing both teams’ uneven starts through the first stretch of the 2026-27 season.

Simon Holmstrom scored twice for the Islanders, who found ways to keep pressure after taking control of the scoring. Ilya Sorokin stopped 28 shots as New York maintained a lead built on early offensive production and a strong goaltending effort.

The Islanders played much of the game without forwards Calum Ritchie and Matias Maccelli, who were both injured in the first period. Ritchie left after one shift with a lower-body injury, while Maccelli exited at 16:36 after falling awkwardly on his left knee when he was tripped by Darren Raddysh; Maccelli put minimal weight on the leg as he was helped off the ice by two teammates.

Toronto was also dealing with absences before puck drop. Forward John Tavares was out with a lower-body injury and is listed as week to week; the injury occurred in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

New York opened the scoring at 8:18 of the first period when Anthony Duclair put the Islanders ahead 1-0. Duclair scored after taking a backhand pass from Jean-Gabriel Pageau along the right boards, stepping to his left in the slot, and beating Sergei Bobrovsky low to the glove side.

Horvat extended the lead to 2-0 at 18:33 of the second period, finishing a rebound in the slot after Bobrovsky made a right pad save on Kyle Palmieri. The goal increased New York’s cushion as Toronto continued to look for answers despite being down two.

Toronto pulled within one goal in the third period when Colton Sissons cut the deficit to 2-1 at 3:54. Sissons redirected Troy Stecher’s one-timer from the right point, trimming the Islanders’ lead and giving the Maple Leafs a brief chance to rally.

Holmstrom restored a two-goal advantage at 14:08 of the third period. He received a pass from Horvat and beat Bobrovsky from the slot, scoring past the glove for a 3-1 lead that made Toronto’s comeback more difficult.

The Islanders sealed the outcome late, with Holmstrom adding an empty-net goal at 17:55 for the 4-1 final. Sorokin’s 28-save performance and New York’s late scoring ensured Toronto could not convert momentum gained after the third-period goal.

For the Maple Leafs, Bobrovsky finished with 16 saves as Toronto fell to 1-2-2 in its past five games. The result kept both teams in the middle of a tight early-season stretch, with injuries again playing a role in how each side managed its lineup through the contest at Scotiabank Arena.