Leafs centre Nazem Kadri had a lot going on Tuesday night in addition to setting a personal high for goals.
Kadri had a physical edge to his game and scored his 21st goal of the season in the Leafs’ 7-1 win over the New York Islanders at the Air Canada Centre.
Auston Matthews bagged a pair in a three-goal third period for the Leafs, who opted out of the morning skate Tuesday, then turned in one of their best efforts of late. They even scored first, after allowing the opening goal in five of their previous seven contests.
New York, which stormed over the Leafs at home earlier this month, entered the game trailing Toronto by a single point in the standings. They were at the top of a group of six teams chasing Toronto for one of the two wild-card berths in the Eastern Conference.
The Leafs got the job done, though, keeping Islanders captain John Tavares off the board.
Kadri played a leading role. His goal put the Leafs up 2-0 in the first period, after the team had preached the importance of starting strong for days.
Josh Leivo, with his first of the season, and William Nylander, with his 15th, also scored for the Leafs, who jetted off to Columbus right after for Wednesday night’s game against the Blue Jackets.
Leivo, in just his fifth game as a replacement for the injured Nikita Soshnikov, added two assists, including one on Matthews’ power-play goal. Tyler Bozak scored his 14th goal of the season as part of a two-goal blitz midway through the third period that put Toronto up 5-1.
Defenceman Matt Hunwick, with a goal late in the third, his first of the season, capped the scoring for the Leafs, who improved to 14-9-4 at home.
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