New York Islanders Almost Spoil Victory Against Ottawa Senators

The New York Islanders almost spoil the win, but still manage to beat the Ottawa Senators 5-4 in the shootout and get the two points.

Coming into the game, the New York Islanders were going through a bit of a cold streak. Over their last seven games, they’ve gone 4-2-1, scoring an average of 2.57 goals int he process.

It hasn’t been the same Islanders team we’ve been used to seeing. Thankfully, the Islanders were going to play the Ottawa Senators over the next two nights.

Over their last seven games, the Ottawa Senators have gone 1-6-0. The Senators are the ideal opposition to get the Isles season back on track. So long as the Islanders can play their game.

Won’t Go Away

With all due respect to the Ottawa Senators, this was as close to a guaranteed two points as the Islanders would get. (Or at least it should have been.)

Brock Nelson got the Islanders on the board first after finishing off a Bailey one-time. It was Brock’s 21st goal of the season, putting him on pace to match his career high 26 goals in a season.

It was the only goal of a slow-paced first period. You’d think the Islanders would be chomping at the bits to get at a weak Senators side.

Thankfully, the New York Islanders came alive in the second period. Through the second frame, the Isles registered 26 shots on goal against the Senators. The Isles average 28 shots a game.

The Islanders managed three goals in the period. None prettier than Devon Toews’ fifth goal of the season thanks to Michael Dal Colle.

The Senators would score two of their own in the second period to make it 4-2.

And in the third period, the Senators still wouldn’t go away. They’d score two goals more goals to even the score at four apiece. The second goal coming with a serving of controversy as Brady Tkachuk barrels over Robin Lehner who had to leave the game with an injury.

Through 60 the score was settled at four. Overtime wouldn’t find a winner either. That means it went to the skills competition to decide who’d get the extra point.

The Islanders haven’t been very good in the shootout this season. We can all remember shooters just going down the middle and acting as their controller died.

But this time Jordan Eberle and Mat Barzal put up nice goals while Thomas Greiss kept the Senators from scoring one of their own.

The win put the Islanders on 83 points and back at the top of the Metropolitan Division. It almost didn’t happen thanks to a pesky Senators side.

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At the end of the day, two points should be all that matters, even if it wasn’t the prettiest of wins. Hopefully, when the Islanders head to Ottawa on Thursday they can put forward a better defensive effort while keeping that scoring touch.