Islanders vs. Rangers Winners-Losers: Pair of firsts pick up two points

It wasn’t always pretty, but it doesn’t always have to be. Good teams find a way to win. And the New York Islanders are very much a good team.

After Friday’s 2-1 loss to the same Rangers, the Isles needed to show up today. The first period was great. They picked up a pair of goals and held a 62.5 CF%, 66.67 HDCF%, and 74.47 xGF%. But for some inexplicable reason, the Isles didn’t even come close to that type of play through the next two periods.

But, thanks to a timely goal from someone who needed it desperately in overtime (something that has apparently never happened in at the Coli) the Isles pull the extra point to keep pace with the Washington Capitals at the top of the division.

Here are three winners and three winners for the Isles tonight.

New York Islanders pick up two points with OT win

Winners

Ryan Pulock (1G (OT GWG, 2SOG): Ryan Pulock has been playing so well this year for the Islanders but somehow he hadn’t yet scored a goal. Pulock has been an important player for the Isles when scoring goals from the blueline with 29 goals over the last three years. To have none, 40+ games into the year is ridiculous.

But, in OT, Barzal found Pulock in wide-open ice and the defenseman found a hole through Shesterkin for his first of the year.

Kyle Palmieri (1G (PP), 2SOG): It didn’t take long for Kyle Palmieri to get on the score sheet for the Isles. In only his third game (but only 1:47 into that third game), the former New Jersey Devil finds twine. And on the power play no less.

That was Palmieri’s first for the Isles. Hopefully, it’s one of MANY.

Mathew Barzal (2A, 2SOG, 2 Hits): Barzal helped create two crucial goals on the night. He started the play the resulted in the Pageau goal and played the decisive pass for Ryan Pulock’s OT winner.

With two points tonight, Mat Barzal has nine points in his last six games. Lethal.

Losers

Matt Martin (4PIM): The fourth line didn’t have its greatest game today. Matt Martin in particular. He took two tripping calls today. Thankfully, the penalty kill bailed him out both times.

Josh Bailey (1A): Josh Bailey wasn’t at his best today. Yes, he got an assist on that Palmieri goal on the PP early in the game. But later on in the game, he missed a big opportunity with Palmieri alone in the slot on the PP.

Noah Dobson (-1.13 GS): Noah Dobson had the lowest game score on the night for the Islanders. The young Islanders defender is still learning his craft, but his 1.01GA and 0.00GF isn’t particularly good.