The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the New York Islanders on Thursday night in a late-season matchup with very different stakes, as the Islanders fight to stay alive in the playoff race while Toronto plays out the final stretch of its season.
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How to Watch Maple Leafs vs Islanders
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Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
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Toronto enters the matchup already eliminated from playoff contention, sitting near the bottom of the Atlantic Division with 78 points on the season. Their defensive struggles have been a major issue, allowing over 3.5 goals per game, one of the worst marks in the NHL.
Despite that, the Maple Leafs still have offensive firepower. William Nylander leads the team with 73 points (26 goals, 47 assists), while John Tavares has 68 points (30 goals, 38 assists) and has been productive down the stretch.
Toronto averages 3.09 goals per game, but gives up too many chances, surrendering over 32 shots per game, which has ultimately cost them a playoff spot.
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Meanwhile, the Islanders are still very much alive in the playoff race. New York enters the night with 89 points and sits just outside a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. With only a few games remaining, they likely need to win out and get help from other teams to qualify.
Mathew Barzal leads the team with 70 points this season, while Ilya Sorokin has been great down the stretch with a .909 save percentage in net and multiple shutouts
The Islanders have been strong defensively overall, allowing just 2.87 goals per game, a top-tier mark compared to Toronto’s struggles.
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