Leafs beat Islanders with flurry of goals

For years, the Toronto Maple Leafs played like a franchise without a plan.

Now, in their first season under head coach Mike Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello, the Leafs appear to have a blueprint for success.

"We have different systems now and we're doing a better job of playing with (the) system," said Tyler Bozak, who along with Michael Grabner scored 1:40 apart in the second period to lead the Maple Leafs to a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday night.

After going 1-7-2 in October, the Leafs are 12-7-5 in November and December. Toronto has recorded at least one point in seven of its last eight games (5-1-2). Overall, the Leafs are 13-14-7.

"Guys are buying in," Bozak said.

Jonathan Bernier stopped 25 shots while James van Riemsdyk added an empty-net goal.

"It's about his confidence, it's not about my confidence. If he's confident, I'm confident. If he's not confident, I'm not confident. If he's not confident, his teammates aren't confident," Babcock said of Bernier, who after an 0-9 start to the season was sent to AHL Toronto for a conditioning stint on Dec. 2.

In four games with the Marlies, Bernier compiled a 3-0-1 mark with a 1.25 GAA and .948 save percentage.

"If the goalie plays (well), no one talks about it," Babcock said. "If he doesn't play (well), everyone talks about it."

Thomas Greiss made 35 saves for New York, which has lost four of five. The Islanders fell to 19-12-5.

Nikolay Kulemin scored New York's goal, his third of the season and first since Oct. 20, against Columbus.

"We weren't managing the puck well, starting with myself," John Tavares said. "We have to be a lot better. You're not going to dominate for 60 minutes in this league but you have to make it tough on the opponent. We just made it a little too easy. They made some plays and put us behind the 8-ball."

Following a scoreless first period, Bozak tallied 1:33 into the second period, his ninth of the season. The sequence began with Greiss stopping a shot from the slot by Roman Polak but the goaltender could not control the rebound, and was alone in the right circle.

"It was a good bounce," Bozak said. "That worked out nice, just at the right spot at the right time."

It didn't take long for Toronto to build on its lead.

Grabner haunted his old team as he made it 2-0 with his fifth of the season and the 100th of his NHL career by poking a rebound of a shot by Morgan Reilly into the net at 3:13.

"It felt good," Grabner said.

Toronto acquired Grabner from New York during training camp. The Islanders received prospects Taylor Beck, Matt Finn, Christopher Gibson, Tom Nilsson and Carter Verhaeghe in the trade.

"I was open to it," Grabner said of the trade. "And when I got traded I was just trying to see it as a fresh start."​