NY Islanders Defeat NHL-Leading Jets 3-2 Behind Brock Nelson’s Big Night

The script was picture-perfect on Tuesday night if it was the final game in New York Islanders sweaters for forwards Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri. With signs increasingly pointing toward each being moved before the NHL's Friday trade deadline, each scored their 20th goal of the season in a 3-2 win over the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets at UBS Arena. Playing on back-to-back nights, Ilya Soorkin made 27 saves as the Isles rebounded from their 4-0 loss at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers. Ryan Pulock scored the game-winner early in the third period to extend the lead to 3-1. Josh Morrissey had a power-play goal for the Jets, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 26 shots for the Jets, who have lost three straight.

“In our meeting before the game, I could tell that the guys were ready for that game,” said head coach Patrick Roy. “We were playing a very good hockey club and we had to come up with a solid team effort, and that’s exactly what we got.” The win jumped the Islanders ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers and they now trail the Rangers by three points for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 21 games left to play in the regular season.

After going 11 forwards and 7 defenseman on Monday, Anthony Duclair returned to the lineup in place of Adam Boqvist, logging 14:45 of ice time with one shot on goal and one blocked shot while skating alongside Bo Horvat and Palmieri. Roy debuted new-look lines, featuring Brock Nelson centering Max Tsyplakov and Simon Holmstrom, while Jean-Gabriel Pageau played between Anders Lee and Casey Cizikas. Hudson Fasching was paired with Kyle MacLean and Marc Gatcomb.

The Islanders don't play again until Saturday night in San Jose, but there's anticipation that the lineup will look different as GM Lou Lamoriello contemplates whether to sell. "It's out of my control. It's part of the business., said Palmieri after the win. "I've been around long enough to be traded, had friends get traded. It's not something you can focus on. Until someone says otherwise, I love fighting for a playoff spot with this group."