New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs Picks and Predictions January 2nd 2025

Maple Leafs Continue Without Auston Matthews at Islanders

The Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders are set to clash again on Thursday in Elmont, N.Y., completing a home-and-home series as both teams look to start 2025 on the right foot.

Toronto, tied atop the Atlantic Division with the Florida Panthers, continues to navigate a season with star center Auston Matthews sidelined. Meanwhile, the Islanders face mounting pressure to turn their season around and remain in playoff contention.

Maple Leafs Adjust Without Matthews

Toronto (23-12-3) has faced adversity with Matthews missing 14 of its 38 games this season due to an upper-body injury. The star center aggravated the ailment in a Dec. 20 win over the Buffalo Sabres and has yet to return.

Matthews practiced Wednesday and expressed optimism about his recovery but remained noncommittal on a return date.

“It’s a physical sport. It’s a contact sport. Things happen out there sometimes that are out of your control,” Matthews said. “Just try to manage it as best as I can, and that we can, and you just go from there.”

In Matthews’ absence, the Maple Leafs have leaned on captain John Tavares, who scored in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over the Islanders. Toronto’s offense, however, has been inconsistent without Matthews’ 69-goal production from last season. The team has been held to three goals or fewer in nine of the 14 games Matthews has missed.

Toronto ranks 13th in the NHL in goals scored with 118 this season, a drop-off from last year’s Eastern Conference-leading 298 goals.

Islanders Seek Offensive Consistency

New York (17-16-3) continues to struggle offensively despite the returns of Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair, who missed significant time earlier in the season. The Islanders rank among the league’s worst in scoring, with 102 goals through 36 games, tied for seventh fewest in the NHL.

Barzal and Duclair, pivotal to the Islanders’ attack, have managed just one goal apiece since reuniting on Dec. 21. While New York has shown flashes — including six-goal performances against Toronto on Dec. 21 and Pittsburgh on Dec. 30 — offensive droughts remain frequent.

“We want to get off to a good start in the new year,” Islanders forward Brock Nelson said. “We’ve been talking about getting on a roll and just playing good, solid hockey and getting a good stretch of wins to get ourselves back more in the mix.”

The Islanders entered 2025 five points out of a playoff spot, making this game critical for a team at risk of falling further behind.

What’s at Stake

For Toronto, maintaining momentum and holding the division lead is vital as they await Matthews’ return. Secondary scorers like Tavares, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner must continue stepping up to keep the Maple Leafs on track.

The Islanders, meanwhile, need a win to remain competitive in the playoff race and stave off speculation about potential moves at the trade deadline. Veterans Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri, Anders Lee, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau could become targets for contenders if New York remains on the outside looking in.

Players to Watch

Toronto Maple Leafs

• John Tavares: The captain continues to carry the offensive load in Matthews’ absence.
• William Nylander: With 45 points in 38 games, Nylander remains a consistent contributor.
• Joseph Woll: The young goaltender has emerged as a key piece with a 2.24 GAA and .923 save percentage.

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New York Islanders

Ilya Sorokin: The goaltender has been a bright spot, but he’ll need support to spark a turnaround.

Mathew Barzal: Needs to find his scoring rhythm to reignite the Islanders’ offense.

Brock Nelson: The team’s leading scorer, with 34 points, remains a critical factor.