Anthony Stolarz and foot soldiers hang on for Leafs win

Next up for the Leafs: Playing host to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Published Sep 30, 2026  •  2 minute read

Easton Cowan of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his first-period goal against the New York Islanders with his teammate Gavin McKenna at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Sept. 30, 2026. Photo by Chris Tanouye /Getty Images

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The Maple Leafs’ third line and second goalie gave coach Jim Hiller his first win in Toronto.

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Easton Cowan, Nick Paul and Colton Sissons provided strong two-way efforts, and Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves, as the Maple Leafs evened their record at 1-1 on Wednesday, hanging on for a 2-1 victory against the New York Islanders at Scotiabank Arena.

It was their first favourable regular-season home decision since March 25 against the New York Rangers, a stretch that included an overall seven-game losing skein to end that miserable schedule, and an opening loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. That led to a summer of upheaval on Bay Street, including Hiller replacing Craig Berube.

For Stolarz, it had been a longer drought at Scotiabank Arena, going back to an early November victory over Utah, before an injury capped his season win total at 10. After several chances to make it 3-0, Toronto gave up a short-handed goal to Emil Heineman with under six minutes to go.

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After the hustling Islanders out-shot Toronto 4-0 through five minutes, which did get Stolarz immersed for his first start, a lightbulb went on for Toronto’s forecheck.

Hiller, who had chosen to start the game with his third line, had it pay off in a Sissons goal, a tip of Paul’s shot that Cowan engineered. Hiller’s wish to see the power play get more assertive was fulfilled with a goal as well, though not via the No. 1 unit.

Morgan Rielly, who looked to be out of a specialty team job when Darren Raddysh joined the top group, knocked down a clearing pass which Jack Roslovic put on net for a Cowan tap-in. Rielly spoke Wednesday morning of a growing rapport with Raddysh, skirting the topic of the newcomer’s five giveaways in the game against Montreal.

As Cowan proved himself a puck hound again, the top two lines had a night of close calls. William Nylander was unable to knock in a perfect 2-on-1 pass from Gavin McKenna that would have clinched the game before Heineman’s heroics on a Bo Horvat feed.

The Leafs killed four penalties, two in the third period, with shot blocks, quick sticks and a couple of stretch saves that had the house chanting ‘Stolie.’

Hiller’s only lineup change from the game against Montreal, other than the natural move to Stolarz, was inserting winger Bo Groulx in Zack MacEwen’s place on the fourth line, Groulx able to inject more offence into the troika as well as some faceoff smarts.

After splitting their first two games, the Leafs get a day off and a valuable practice before playing host to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

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