Toronto, ON (My Sportsbook) - A day after obtaining Brian Leetch, the Toronto Maple Leafs continue their quest for the top seed in the Eastern Conference when they host the New York Islanders at Air Canada Centre.

Earlier Wednesday, the Leafs lost out on the Sergei Gonchar sweepstakes, but by nighttime they had acquired Leetch from the NY Rangers in exchange for a pair of prospects, a first-round pick this year and a second-rounder in 2005.

Leetch is expected to make his debut with the team tonight.

"Brian has been a premier defenseman in this league since first coming into the league," said Toronto general manager John Ferguson. "We look forward to having a player with his great credentials joining our group."

Leetch joins a Leafs club that, with 84 points, is tied with Ottawa atop the Northeast Division standings -- two ahead of Boston. Toronto and Ottawa trail Tampa Bay and Philadelphia by two points for the overall East lead.

On Tuesday, Mats Sundin's second goal of the game with 6:44 remaining in the third period lifted the Maple Leafs to a 3-2 victory over the Bruins in a battle of Original Six teams at Air Canada Centre.

Alexei Ponikarovsky also scored for Toronto, which has won two straight after a three-game skid. Alexander Mogilny posted a pair of assists in the victory.

Ed Belfour, who came off injured reserve and blanked the Stanley Cup-champion New Jersey Devils on Saturday, allowed two goals on 21 shots for Toronto.

The Maple Leafs, who have won three of their last four home games, will host Buffalo on Saturday.

The Islanders, meanwhile, currently hold the eighth and final position in the East -- eight ahead of the Sabres. New York trails Montreal by three points for seventh place.

The Isles are coming off Tuesday's 3-3 tie in Pittsburgh in the back end of a home-and-home. Marc Bergevin's goal early in third period helped the Penguins salvage the point. Mark Parrish notched a goal and an assist for the Islanders, while Cliff Ronning and Jason Blake also scored.

Garth Snow finished with 21 saves for the Islanders, who are 2-1-2-1 in their last six overall.

New York, which is 2-1-3 in its last six road games, will host St. Louis on Saturday.

The Islanders are 2-1 against the Maple Leafs this season, but the home club is 10-2-1 in the last 13 meetings.