New York Islanders Keep On Winning: Win Streak Extended to 5 Games (Highlights)

The New York Islanders kept their winning streak alive with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. The Isles now have five wins in a row and now sit third in the division.

Both the New York Islanders and the Arizona Coyotes were coming into tonight’s game with a four-game winning streak. By the end of the game, one of them would have to take an ‘L’.

With a four-day rest, the Islanders got Casey Cizikas back into the lineup and reunited the fourth line for the first time in a few games. But the question was, would this break impact the Islanders negatively?

Would this four-day break kill their momentum or would it energize them?

First Period

the Islanders came out of the game flying and set the tone for the rest of the game. Something we haven’t seen at all this season.

All of the energy paid off quickly.

Derick Brassard

, the winger, to get on the score sheet. A minute and a half in the game, Brassard tipped in his first goal of the year off a slap-pass from

Ryan Pulock

.

Barry Trotz, take a bow. What an inspired move by the coach to put Brassard on the wing as Casey Cizikas comes back and the Islanders suddenly have an excess number of centers. And it worked, immediately. That’s why we love Trotz.

Ten minutes later though, as Josh Bailey coughs up the puck in the neutral zone, a familiar face in Michael Grabner takes the puck up alone on Varlamov and rips into the toy department high-glove to tie the game at one.

The period would end with 14 shots combined (seven for each). Both teams are strong defensively so if you were tuning in hoping for a barn-burner you would have been disappointed.

Second Period

Outside of a Josh Bailey goal at 14:25 in the second period, it was about as dull as you can imagine.

The shots ended up 8-7 in favor of the Arizona Coyotes.

I guess the only other thing to bring up is that the Islanders would get their 13th power-play opportunity of the season. They didn’t score on it, but it was there. So, that’s a thing.

Third Period

Honestly, did Lou not pay his share of the referee end-of-year thank you gift from all 31 teams? The Islanders just can’t get a call for the life of them. There were a few easy calls in the third period that were ignored by the refs.

One was a cross-check to Derick Brassard’s neck. There was also a trip on Adam Pelech behind the Arizona goal that went ignored by the men in stripes. With 13 power-play opportunities, the Isles have the fewest power-play opportunities in the league, by a mile.

Thankfully, the Islanders didn’t need their 30.8 percent efficient power play to win. Up by two before the start of the third, captain

Anders Lee

made it 3-1 with a classic Anders Lee goal.

Defending Anders Lee must be the most difficult and annoying job in the league. The man just can’t be moved, it’s like Newton’s first law of motion doesn’t apply to him. Standing in the slot, Lee was able to bury the puck as he fell to his rump.

The Islanders didn’t allow a high-danger chance against in the third period until Conor Garland made it 3-2 in the 18th minute of the third.

The drama was high as the game was coming to an end. With the Arizona net empty, the Coyotes poured on the pressure to force overtime. Scott Mayfield would find the puck and send it the length of the ice and score on the empty net for the 4-2 win and the fifth in five games.

Three Stars

1. Josh Bailey: 1 Goal, 1 Assist

He now has eight points in nine games. That puts him on pace for 73 points. Bailey is putting up the production the Islanders were hoping he could when they drafted up their plans in the offseason.

2. Brock Nelson: 2 Assists

Brocktober is alive and well. Brock now has nine points in nine games and leads the New York Islanders in points. With only one more game in October, can Brock keep this up when the calendar flips?

3. Casey Cizikas

He didn’t score, he didn’t get an assist, and he only got one shot on net. But having Casey Cizikas made a world of a difference for the Islanders tonight. His play on the puck, off the puck, on the forecheck, and in creating chances was superb. This team isn’t the same without him.