Matthews scores, is hurt in 4-3 shootout victory

TORONTO — Tyler Bozak scored the shootout winner as the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the New York Islanders, 4-3, in National Hockey League action Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre.

Auston Matthews tipped a Jake Gardiner shot to tie it 3-3 with 3:29 left in the third, but later left the game favouring his right side after taking a hit from Cal Clutterbuck and did not return. The 20-year-old missed six games in December with a concussion and another four games with an undisclosed upper-body injury.

Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly had the other Leafs goals. Toronto (38-20-5) has won eight straight at home. Frederik Andersen made 32 saves for the win.

Ryan Pulock, Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle scored for the Islanders (29-26-7) while goalie Jaroslav Halak turned aside 28 shots. New York, which entered the night a point out of a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, drops to 4-6-2 since the all-star break and is 13-15-3 on the road this season.

With his three points, Barzal has a team-leading 65 and a 14point lead over Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL’s rookie scoring race.

Pulock opened the scoring at 8:39 of the first.

Barzal then doubled New York’s lead, backhanding the rebound off Anthony Beauvillier’s shot past Andersen for his 13th goal of the season at 11:48.

Marner, with his 15th goal of the season, got the Leafs on the board at 17:39. The goal gives Marner 10 in his past 16 games.

Moments after the Isles hit the post twice, Rielly tied it on a pass from Connor Brown.