"We talked after the second period about how good playoff teams find a way to win these games, when they're not at their best," defenseman Andrew MacDonald told Newsday. "We were kind of hanging on there for the second half of the game.

"At this stage of the game, you have to win these ones to have a shot in the long run."

The Isles weren't particularly sharp early on, but they led 3-1 after one period after capitalizing on a couple of turnovers in the Buffalo zone.

Of course, the Isles haven't played nearly as well within their own conference—the East—or in the loaded Atlantic Division. And they arrived in the New Year well out of a playoff spot before returning to action Tuesday in Carolina.

"Consistency has been our problem all year," Frans Nielsen said before Saturday's 4-1 win over Edmonton. "We know what we have to do, but for some reason there are some games where we don't bring it. ... When we turn pucks over, we make more mental mistakes, make bad decisions. It's not that we don't compete hard.

While the Isles clawed back into the game after spotting the Maple Leafs the first three goals in the first period, they know they shouldn't have to rely on such comebacks, especially during home games at Nassau Coliseum.

"We were a little sluggish. We battled back, but we made too many mistakes and dug ourselves too deep a hole early," center John Tavares said. "We have got to understand games like these, after tough travel weeks, days we don't feel very good, we have to find ways to win. Especially against a team like this that we are chasing in the standings."

Tavares' goal cut Toronto's lead...