The Maple Leafs scored an empty-net goal power-play goal and never left the attack zone.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were up 2-1 late in the third period and headed to the power play after forward Max Pacioretty was tripped. Toronto expected New York to eventually pull their goalie, but not at the point they decided to do it.
With the 42.3 seconds left in regulation time, New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy pulled goaltender Ilya Sorokin, even though the faceoff was in his own zone.
The Islanders were never able to get the puck out of their own zone despite a mad scramble. Former Islanders captain John Tavares eventually iced the game away with an empty-net power play goal with 32.9 seconds remaining in the game
"I think it's the first time that I've ever seen that," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said.
The Leafs had called a timeout prior to the play after their previous power play had gone awry. Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll bailed out his team with a big breakaway save on Islanders forward Brock Nelson.
Even still, Berube didn't expect the strategy implemented by Roy.
"I didn't think they'd pull their goalie," Berube said. "I thought that if they won the draw, rip it down, and they're coming on the goalie was coming just to prepare guys to, you know, be ready and what's going on. Obviously a big goal for us."
