Casey Cizikas scored twice and the New York Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 Thursday night in former captain John Tavares' first time back as a visiting player.
Anthony Beauvillier, Anders Lee and Valtteri Filppula also scored for the Islanders, who had lost three of their last four. Jordan Eberle and Cal Clutterbuck each had two assists, and Robin Lehner stopped 34 shots to help New York move two points ahead of Washington atop the Metropolitan Division one night before hosting the Capitals. The Islanders' 81 points are one more than they had all of last season.
Zach Hyman scored for the Maple Leafs, who had won three straight. Garret Sparks finished with 31 saves. Lee gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead 4:49 into the second with his team-leading 22nd goal. Brock Nelson brought the puck up the right side on a 2-on-1 rush, sent a pass back to the left side as he crossed the end line, and Lee put it past Sparks for his fourth goal in six games.
Filppula made it a three-goal lead as he put in a loose puck in front for his 13th with exactly a minute left in the second.
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