TAKEAWAYS: Woll shines for Leafs, Domi has to keep physicality coming

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The Maple Leafs goalie threw up a wall and, man, that third line came through again.

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Our takeaways from the Leafs’ 2-1 win in New York over the Islanders on Thursday, Toronto’s fourth road win in a row and ninth of 2024-25:

BRICK BY BRICK

The Islanders got an idea of what was in store when Joseph Woll made a fine glove save on Anders Lee before four minutes had ticked off the clock in the first period UBS Arena.

There never was a let-up in the play of the Toronto goalie, and when the final buzzer sounded after a flurry of action around him, Woll had made 32 saves on the night.

Funny how the past couple of games worked out for Woll.

On Tuesday, he made a save in the second period against the Islanders and appeared to be in some discomfort as play went back up the ice. Not only did Woll remain in the game, he said afterward that all was well and then was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.

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On Thursday, there was no concern with Woll.

He saved John Tavares from some embarrassment in the first when the ex-Islander put the puck on the stick of Mathew Barzal. Woll reacted quickly and snared Barzal’s shot with his glove.

Only Scott Mayfield beat Woll, and that came in the second period when the Leafs got disorganized in the defensive zone and the Isles defenceman scored on a clean shot.

A pad save on Noah Dobson in the final minute was big.

“We know he has been stellar all year back there and making great saves,” Bobby McMann told reporters in New York. “That trust in him falls up to our D, falls up to our forwards and we’re just trying to play a solid game, a team game together.

“They had some Grade-A chances throughout and he was just standing up tall, making some nice glove saves, keeping the boys energized.”

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The performance is what the Leafs need from Woll in the coming weeks.

It’s clear that the plan is to use Dennis Hildeby or Matt Murray as little as possible, though one of them is in line to start this weekend when the Leafs have a back-to-back home set against Boston and Philadelphia, respectively.

Woll’s final two starts before Christmas weren’t good, when he allowed nine goals in total in losses to Winnipeg and the Islanders.

That couldn’t have sat well within the organization, especially with Anthony Stolarz still weeks away from returning from a knee injury.

But the 26-year-old Woll has rebounded quite well in the victories over the Isles, and he has to use the past two wins as a foundation for more stellar play.

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THIRD LINE’S A CHARM

Much attention fell on McMann’s two goals, and rightfully so.

For us, the play by Max Domi leading to McMann’s first goal was crucial. It’s the kind of physicality that Domi hasn’t brought on a consistent basis this season, but plenty of time remains for him to make it more of a factor in his favour and that of the team.

And never mind that the Leafs need to add depth at centre before the National Hockey League trade deadline on March 7. Greater intensity on the part of Domi would be welcomed as long as he stays on the right side of the penalty box.

Domi’s reverse hit on Isles defenceman Isaiah George deep in the New York end led to confusion on the home side’s end before Nick Robertson set up McMann.

“When Max is engaged like he was tonight — and I thought last game he was very engaged with his skating and being physical when the time is right — he is a difficult guy to play against,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said afterward. “I thought it was a really good play by him. He saw the guy coming and it was a clean reverse hit. Good things happen sometimes after that.”

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The Domi line made a difference on a night that Mitch Marner (nine games) and John Tavares (eight games) each had a lengthy point streak end, and on a night that William Nylander wasn’t a factor.

“It’s part of the game, right?” Domi said of his hit on George. “Have to be physical and get in on the forecheck. Separated the body from the puck and Robby and Bobby did the rest.”

DEFENCE RESTS

We don’t want to go too hard here on the lack of scoring from the Leafs defencemen.

After all, Berube has installed structure and for the most part, the Leafs have been wise to it. A lot of that falls on the D-men and what they’re doing in the defensive zone.

Still, about that scoring, or lack thereof. No Leafs defenceman has scored since Chris Tanev had a goal against Tampa Bay on Nov. 30, underlining the dearth in general.

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The Leafs’ seven goals by defencemen amount to the fewest in the NHL by any D corps. Only Ottawa (eight) and the New York Rangers (nine) also have fewer than 10, while Columbus leads the NHL with 25.

Regarding points from defencemen, the Leafs have 64, putting them at 23rd before all games were done on Thursday.

The Leafs are first in the Atlantic Division with 50 points, so it’s not a large concern.

Having said that, greater contribution would take some heat off the forwards. More offensive breathing room, especially in games such as the one-goal win against the Islanders, would be best for the group as a whole.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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