Follow me on Twitter:
@BenShelley_20
Follow HockeyBuzz Islanders on Twitter:
@HB_Islanders
The New York Islanders picked up a road win over the Vancouver Canucks last night, coming away with a 6-2 victory.
The game marked Ilya Sorokin’s seventh straight start and 100th of his NHL career.
The Islanders struggled out of the gate, spending a lot of time in their own end. They did have a good chance from Zach Parise off a 2-on-1 late in the frame, but Spencer Martin came across to make a big save. However, the Islanders ended up shorthanded afterwards and while they survived the power play, the Canucks sustained pressure and Bo Horvat was able to tip in a point shot, putting the Canucks ahead just before the end of the frame. Parise then had yet another good chance to get New York on the board in the final minute of the period, but just couldn’t convert. It wasn’t the Islanders’ best period by any means with very little sustained pressure (and following a disappointing loss to the Seattle Kraken, there was reason for concern in terms of the poor start), but they did have a couple chances.
In the second period though, the Islanders tied the game early, with Aatu Raty taking a pass on an odd-man rush and making a subtle move to delay just a second, allowing Martin to slide a bit too far over, as Raty picked the corner. New York then put together a completely different period, controlling much of the frame. They drew some penalties and while they couldn’t capitalize on an initial power play, Jean-Gabriel Pageau managed to convert on a second man advantage, burying a puck in front to put New York ahead. Then only a few minutes later, Tyler Myers committed a brutal turnover right to Mathew Barzal, who beat Martin to make it a 3-1 game. Anders Lee came within inches of extending the lead again following Barzal's goal, ringing a shot right off the post, but soon after Vancouver managed to get one back on a power play, off another goal from Bo Horvat.
New York managed to reinstate the two-goal lead only two minutes into the third period though, after yet another turnover from Vancouver’s defensemen. This time it was Ethan Bear, who put the puck right on Anders Lee’s stick and Lee was able to just turn and fire a perfect shot past Martin, making it a 4-2 game. The Islanders kept coming, and at the midway mark of the period, Casey Cizikas was able to beat Martin with a great shot, for New York to take a three-goal lead. New York limited Vancouver to just six shots in the frame (despite managing only five themselves) and with two minutes left, Pageau scored an empty netter, securing a 6-2 Islanders win.
Things looked a little uncertain after a bit of a flat first period, but the Islanders bounced back in the back 40 minutes to put together a strong game. The second frame was a complete 180, and New York was able to just hold the lead from there, doing a great job denying Vancouver easy exits in the third period.
Parker Wotherspoon also picked up his first career NHL point with a secondary assist on the Casey Cizikas goal. It was kind of perfect timing, given Wotherspoon is from British Columbia and had family in the crowd for the game.
Speaking of BC natives with family in the building, Mathew Barzal also had a great game, managing a goal and three points. He’s now currently riding a four-game goal streak.
Aatu Raty’s second NHL goal also came despite his smallest role yet, playing just over six minutes in the win. I’m all for easing players into the lineup and I think using him in a limited role on the fourth line makes sense right now, but I’m not sure why he’s seeming to get fewer and fewer minutes in each game he plays.
Regardless, it’s a big win for the Islanders to get back on track. It wasn’t necessarily a full 60-minute performance, but they did finish the game strong and it was a much more positive outing than what we saw against the Kraken.
The Islanders are back in action tomorrow, as they kick off a back-to-back set against the Edmonton Oilers.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM JANUARY
Islanders come out flat against Kraken, lose first game of road trip 
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»