Bailey scored 4:18 into overtime, taking a pass from Sean Bergenheim and slamming the puck into an open net. It was the Islanders only shot of the extra period. Jeff Tambellini, Matt Moulson and Bergenheim also scored for New York (9-8-7).
Phil Kessel, Wayne Primeau and Niklas Hagman replied for the Maple Leafs (4-11-7).
It was a relatively quiet night for Islanders rookie John Tavares, who admitted to feeling some nerves before a game that was attended by roughly 100 friends and family. The 19-year-old from nearby Oakville was limited to one quality scoring chance — he roared in off the wing in third period and had a shot stopped by Jonas Gustavsson.
The Islanders surged to a 3-0 lead over a span of 3:13. Tambellini took a nice breakaway pass from Mark Streit and beat Vesa Toskala high, Moulson pumped his fists after tipping home his team-leading 11th of the season and Bergenheim came in alone on a short-handed rush and roofed a shot over Toskala.
Suddenly, the boos poured down from an Air Canada Centre crowd that has witnessed just two wins in 11 games this season.
A glimpse of hope arrived soon after off the stick of Kessel, who scored for the sixth time in 10 games with the Maple Leafs. He charged hard to the goal and had a tap-in after taking a nice pass from Matt Stajan at 15:32.
Interestingly, Leafs coach Ron Wilson sent Gustavsson in for Toskala shortly after Kessel’s goal. It was unclear if Toskala suffered an injury — he went straight to the dressing room after getting pulled before returning to the end of the bench for the third period.
Primeau scored at 2:10 of the third period from his knees before Hagman roared around Freddy Meyer and made it 3-3 at 9:18.
Notes
Leafs forward John Mitchell left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury. … Jeff Finger (lower body) and Rickard Wallin (healthy) were scratched by Toronto. … The Islanders sat out Rob Schremp, Andrew MacDonald and Blake Comeau. … Toronto took three of four meetings between the teams a year ago … The Leafs had 46 shots against Montreal on opening night.