The Toronto Maple Leafs tallied three times in the third period to defeat the New York Islanders 3-1 at the Nassau Coliseum last night. Kyle Wellwood, Pavel Kubina and Alexei Ponikarovsky scored for the Leafs while Rob Davison scored the only goal for the Islanders. For the Leafs, the win kept their slim playoff hopes alive. For the Islanders, it marked the NHL debut of their top ranked prospect, Kyle Okposo.

Both teams entered the game with key players injured. The Leafs were without captain Mats Sundin for the second straight game and were also missing winger Nik Antropov. The Islanders added starting goalie Rick DiPietro to their extensive injury list. DiPietro had an MRI performed on his hip Tuesday. This was the same hip he injured at the skills competition during All-Star Weekend in Atlanta. The results of the MRI were expected Wednesday afternoon. Wade Dubielewicz got the start for New York and was backed up by Joey MacDonald, who was recalled from Bridgeport before the game.

The Islanders opened the scoring on a fluke goal by defenseman Rob Davison. With the Leafs on a power play, Davison shot the puck down the ice from just past his own goal line. The biscuit bounced seven times before hopping over a stunned Vesa Toskala and into the goal to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead 13:48 into the contest. It was Davison's first goal of the season and the Islanders' first shorthanded goal since January 22. It was the only goal Toskala allowed; he made 27 saves to earn the win.

Dubielewicz seemed determined to make the goal stand up. He was strong throughout the game but especially in the second period when he made 11 stops including a spectacular pad save on a Matt Stajan shorthanded breakaway midway through the period.

Kyle Wellwood finally figured out a way to beat Dubielewicz at the 7:24 mark of the third period. His tip of a slap shot from the left point beat the Islander goaltender to even the score at 1-1. Kubina netted the game-winner nearly four minutes later with Isles' defenseman Aaron Johnson in the penalty box for holding. Kubina fired from the center of the blue line. Dubielewicz was screened by Ponikarovsky and didn't see the shot until it was too late.

The Leafs also had a goal called back with just over four minutes left in regulation time. Darcy Tucker poked home a great centering pass from Matt Stajan, but ex-Islander Jason Blake was called for goaltender interference and the tally was disallowed. That issue was made moot when Ponikarovsky's empty-netter with 28 seconds left clinched the win for the Leafs.

For Islanders' fans, the game marked the NHL debut of their organization's top prospect, Kyle Okposo. The 19-year-old native of St. Paul showed flashes of skill during his 14:45 of ice time. He registered two shots on goal and was credited with one hit while also seeing time on the second power play unit. His best scoring chance came in the third period when he carried the puck down the right side, behind the net and tried to beat Toskala on a wraparound. The fans cheered his every move and supported him with signs including one that read, "Kyle On the Isle."

Islander coach Ted Nolan was pleased with Okposo's play in his first game. "You could tell he's a player when he first stepped on the ice," Nolan said. "He has great sense of the game, a great understanding of the game. He has great instincts. Once he gets comfortable in this league, he's going to be a pretty good player."

Okposo admitted to being nervous but felt he settled down after the first period. "I was a bit jittery at first, and psyched myself out,” Okposo said. “I started to calm down in the second and third. I thought the game was faster than it was. It’s no different than what I played. Obviously, guys are better, but hockey is hockey anywhere you go.”

Despite the addition of Okposo, the Islanders again had trouble scoring goals with their injury-depleted lineup. They now have just the one fluke goal in their last two games and have lost six in a row and eight of their last nine games.

“We took some bad penalties again, and we’re right back to where we were,” Isles' captain, Bill Guerin said. “We have to keep looking forward.”

Nolan was pleased with the play of his younger players, especially Sean Bergenheim and Blake Comeau. The veterans, however, upset Nolan with their lack of effort and leadership. "Having a different lineup each night is tough alone, but when you don't compete, don't fight and don't battle, that's inexcusable," Nolan explained. "The kids played extremely well. Kyle, for his first game, I thought looked really good. Comeau was doing his thing and Bergenheim was doing his thing. The young guys were competing out there but we need a little bit better effort from our leaders on this hockey club."

With the win, the Leafs remained six points behind the Flyers in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with eight games to play. The Islanders are now 11 points behind and all but mathematically eliminated from the playoff race.

Isles Notes

Toronto's Carlo Colaiacovo left the game with an injured hamstring late in the first period after taking a hit from New York's Sean Bergenheim. Colaiacovo did not return but the injury is not believed to be serious.

The Islanders' next game will be Friday night in New Jersey.