Islanders' Pierre Engvall makes dramatic return to Toronto
![Islanders' Pierre Engvall (18) passes the puck as Toronto Maple...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMGY2ODQ1OTQtZDkxNS00%3AOTQtZDkxNS00NzM5NDkz%2Fislanders-maple-leafs-hockey.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Islanders' Pierre Engvall (18) passes the puck as Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) defends during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
TORONTO — Pierre Engvall wasn’t necessarily thinking about scoring in his first game back at Scotiabank Arena. Just the fact that he had scored.
His rebound goal at 17:58 of the third period proved to be the winner as the Islanders beat the Maple Leafs, 3-2, on Monday night.
Engvall had gone eight games without notching a point since his last goal on Jan. 2.
“It was a great feeling,” said Engvall, acquired from the Maple Leafs for a third-round pick on Feb. 28, 2023, before signing a seven-year, $21 million extension. “I haven’t scored for a while. It felt really good. Lately, I haven’t played as good as I want to.”
Engvall has six goals and nine assists in 44 games.
“I’m sure he was a bit nervous for tonight’s game,” coach Patrick Roy said. “But he played a really solid game. We talk a lot about going to the net and it’s exactly what he did.”
‘Special moment’
Rookie Kyle MacLean got a pat on the back from his father, Islanders assistant coach John MacLean, after notching his first NHL point. Roy said the elder MacLean did have a bigger reaction on the bench after Kyle MacLean’s breakaway goal made it 2-1 at 2:50 of the second period.
“It happened quick, but it’s cool to see it cross the goal line,” said Kyle MacLean, who played his sixth NHL game. “It’s a bit of a relief. It’s a special moment.”
Isles files
Center Bo Horvat logged 19:41 with three shots in his 700th NHL game . . . Defensemen Sebastian Aho and Samuel Bolduc were the healthy scratches . . . Center Casey Cizikas (long-term injured reserve/lower body) participated in the morning skate in an orange non-contact jersey . . . It was Benoit Desrosiers’ first game on the Islanders’ bench since Roy’s longtime assistant with Quebec (QMJHL) was hired for his first NHL job on Friday.