Matthews delivers to lift Leafs over Islanders

Auston Matthews scored the tie-breaking goal with 3:58 remaining in the third period as the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs completed a season sweep of the New York Islanders with a 5-4 victory Friday night.

Matthews snapped the game’s fifth deadlock after getting a pass from William Nylander through the crease. Once he gained possession at the left side of the crease, Matthews shoveled the puck over Christopher Gibson’s stick and scored his 31st goal of the season.

Mitch Marner extended his points streak to 11 games with a goal and an assist as Toronto won for the eighth time in 10 games and completed its first season sweep of the Islanders since the 1996-97 season.

John Tavares, Anthony Beuvillier, Johnny Boychuk and Brock Nelson scored for the Islanders, who are 3-11-4 in their last 18 games.

In other NHL action, Rickard Rakell scored with 19 seconds remaining in overtime and goalie John Gibson stopped 28 shots as the host Anaheim Ducks claimed a big two points for its playoff hopes with a 2-1victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Rakell netted his team-high 32nd goal of the season when he opted to shoot from the slot – using Kings defenseman Alec Martinez as a screen – and ripped a top-corner offering over the shoulder of goalie Jonathan Quick to the delight of the Ducks’ faithful.

With the win, the Ducks have 93 points and jumped back into a Western Conference wild-card playoff position with four games remaining on the schedule. Los Angeles has 94 points and sits third in the Pacific Division standings, although the Ducks have a game in hand.