Anthony Beauvillier scored twice, Mathew Barzal had a goal and a Leaf-burning assist, and the Islanders overcame a dire second period and blown 2-0 lead to hang on for a 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, extending their points streak to 13 games.
Despite the gaggle of Toronto media descending on the scene and asserting otherwise, this meeting at Nassau Coliseum was no longer about the former Islanders captain; fans got that out of their system at the first meeting last season. But it was still an electric atmosphere, and the game had enough twists, ups and downs to live up to the hype.