TORONTO, April 26 (UPI) -- Bryan McCabe and Jonas Hoglund each scored twice Friday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs took a three games to two lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the New York Islanders with an impressive 6-3 victory.
On Thursday, the Leafs learned they would be without Mats Sundin -- their leading scorer in each of the last eight seasons -- for the remainder of the playoffs due to a broken left wrist.
"We knew we were going to be without Mats," Leafs center Alyn McCauley said. "We needed everyone to step up and everyone did."
At least for one night, the Leafs made up for the loss of their captain by playing their best game of the series while pushing the upstart Islanders to the brink of elimination. Game 6 will be Sunday at the Nassau Coliseum.
McCabe, a former Islander, scored twice just over seven minutes apart in the second period, helping Toronto open a 4-1 lead. Hoglund scored in the first and third periods.
"During the end of the season we had a lot of injuries to deal with," McCabe said. "We did a real good job securing home ice and it's been a big part of this series. Hopefully we can go in on Sunday and steal one."
The loss also came at a price for the Islanders, who saw defenseman Kenny Jonsson and center Michael Peca leave the contest early with injuries after questionable hits.
Jonsson left in the first period after being slammed into the boards from behind by Gary Roberts, who was assessed a major penalty for charging. Jonsson was diagnosed with a concussion and neck strain.
Islanders coach Peter Laviolette was particularly bothered by the hit on Jonsson.
"The hit on Kenny Jonsson should be looked at the same way as the Kyle McLaren hit last night," Laviolette said. "Kenny Jonsson is lost for the year and those referres said to me that there was no evidence to me that it was a head injury. I just don't understand, he didn't see a head injury? Kenny lay on the ice for how long and that's not a head injury? If you see the tape, it was a forearm shiver to the back of the head."
Roberts defended himself for the hit.
"I know what I did and I feel I didn't do anything wrong," he said. "It's an unfortunate incident. I'm just trying to do my job. Kenny I think reversed where he was going at the last moment and then ducked his head a little. I had no choice but to finish my check.
"I'm not out there to hurt a guy like that. You're talking to a guy who had his career ended by hits from behind and I know better to do that. It was just unfortunate. I feel bad that he got hurt."
Peca -- one of the top checking forwards in the league -- left in the second period with a sprained left knee after being undercut on a check by Darcy Tucker. No penalty was called.
"They're dirty hits and you can't have that," Islanders right wing Mark Parrish said. "This game is a great game without all that stuff. It's unfortunate to see two great players miss a game because of those kinds of hits."
