New York Islanders Escape Vancouver with Another Road Win

The Islanders put the tired play aside and bared down to beat the Canucks in overtime.

The Islanders got off to a slow start in this one but the Canucks could not take advantage. Vancouver had two breakaways in the first three minutes but Thomas Greiss was up to the task and kept the game scoreless.

Through the first eight minutes of the game, the Canucks were outshooting the Islanders 8-1. Somehow the Isles were able to survive the first without allowing the goal, and each managing to take the lead.

At the 15:01 mark of the first Josh Bailey made a terrific move a pass to find a wide- open John Tavares who ripped one into the open net. It was the 25^th goal of the year for Tavares, and Bailey continued to shine on the first line.

Greiss would make a few more terrific saves to end the period and the Islanders would escape with a 1-0 lead.

The Isles would start the second period slow as well, but this time they would pay for it. Reid Boucher would score at the 1:35 mark and in the blink of an eye, this game was tied.

Two minutes later a sub-par defensive play by Tavares would put the puck right on the stick of Sven Baertschi. He fired one passed Greiss and the Islanders found themselves down 2-0 and rightfully so. The Islanders were lucky to survive the first but no matter how tired they were, the start to the second was inexcusable.

After the two goals, the Canucks were outshooting the Islanders 7-0 in the first and 21-4 overall.

New York Islanders

Bailey to The Rescue

When it looked like the Isles may have thrown in it for the night they found their second gear and pushed it to the limit. At 9:44 Bailey made another great play to lead Beavuillier on a breakaway. Beau made a fantastic move to deke Miller and tie the game at two a piece.

It doesn’t matter if Bailey isn’t putting the puck in the net; he is having the best year of his career and certainly racking up the assists. Play would begin to settle down from here and the Islanders found themselves back in the game.

With 23.8 left in the period, Nick Leddy blasted a shot from the point that went off Brock Nelson and dropped into the net. A lucky bounce for a team that desperately needed to win this game. Bailey picked up his third assist of the night on the goal. The Islanders led 3-2 at the end of the second.

The Islanders looked good in the third but Canucks goalie Ryan Miller made a few big stops to keep this game tied. The two teams would go scoreless the first 19 minutes and the Canucks would pull Miller with just over a minute to play.

With 19.3 to go Cal Clutterbuck would fail to clear the puck and Troy Stecher would beat Greiss over the shoulder with a wrist shot. A stunned Islanders team was now looking at overtime and a must needed second point.

With 1:33 remaining in overtime Andrew Ladd would beat Miller in front of the net and the Islanders escaped Vancouver with a 4-3 victory.

The Islanders remain one point ahead of the Maple Leafs for the last playoff spot.

Next: Islanders playoff odds are just below 60%.

Eight down, one to go. The Islanders will be in St. Louis Saturday night for the last game of the road trip.