(Sports Network) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to extend their perfect start to the 2010-11 season when they host the New York Islanders tonight at Air Canada Centre.
The Maple Leafs have jumped out to a 4-0 start, generating hope that the club has what it takes this year to end the longest playoff drought in the history of the storied franchise. Toronto hasn't qualified for the postseason since 2003-04, missing out on the playoffs in five straight seasons since the lockout.
Toronto began the year with back-to-back wins on home ice and then posted a pair of 4-3 victories on the road last week in Pittsburgh and New York.
The Maple Leafs were last in action Friday against the Rangers and notched an overtime victory in a battle between Original Six clubs at Madison Square Garden. Phil Kessel scored twice, including the game-winner on the power play 3:08 into the extra session.
Clarke MacArthur and Mike Komisarek also lit the lamp for the Maple Leafs, who are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 1993-94 season, when they won a franchise-record 10 straight games to start the campaign.Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 21 saves to get the win.
"We've had a good start, but we have to keep building," Kessel said. "We gave up a two-goal lead and have to work on that now."
MacArthur, who had 16 goals all of last season, has five through four games already in his first year with the Maple Leafs. He became the first player in Leafs history to score in each of his first four games of the season. Kessel is right behind MacArthur with four goals on the year.
The Leafs will host a rematch against the Rangers on Thursday night.
The Islanders are kicking off a four-game road trip tonight after posting an impressive win Saturday against visiting Colorado. Milan Jurcina scored two goals, including a short-handed tally, and picked up one assist to help the Isle continue their mastery of the Avalanche with a 5-2 win at Nassau Coliseum.
Josh Bailey netted a power-play goal and Michael Grabner also lit the lamp for the Islanders, who have taken three straight from Colorado and are 6-0-1 with a tie in their last eight encounters with the Avalanche.
"It felt really good (to score two goals)," Jurcina said. "I've been struggling the last couple years to put the puck in the net. It was a big day."
Dwayne Roloson made 28 saves to record his first win of the season and the Islanders also welcomed back centerman John Tavares and defenseman James Wisniewski back to the lineup.
Tavares returned after missing three games with a mild concussion and scored into an empty net to seal the win for the Islanders. Wisniewski played for the first time since the league handed him a two-game suspension for making an inappropriate gesture to Rangers forward Sean Avery last Monday.
The Islanders beat Toronto three times in four meetings last season and have taken six of the last 11 encounters overall. However, the Leafs have taken three of four and four of their last six home tests against the Isles.