Islanders Top 3 Players of the Week: Oliver Wahlstrom Shines in Two Goal Performance
Through the week of October 16th, the NY Islanders played three games in total. The first of which was a game at the UBS Arena against the San Jose Sharks. The Islanders won this game with ease, by a score of five to two. This extended the Islanders' record on the year to 2-1-0.
The Islanders were able to come away with the win in large part thanks to Oliver Wahlstrom who secured his third career two-goal performance in his young career. Cal Clutterbuck, Zach Parise, and Anders Lee also got on the point sheet with goals on the night. Adam Pelech, Brock Nelson, Noah Dobson, JG Pageau, Brock Nelson, and Matt Martin all got on the point sheet as well with assists.
The next game of the week came on Thursday, Oct. 20, against the New Jersey Devils at the UBS Arena as well. This game unfortunately didn't go as well as the Islanders would go on to lose this game, 4-1. Lee picked up the only goal of the night when he got it assisted by Kyle Palmieri and Mathew Barzal.
On Saturday, the Islanders traveled to Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning in the final game of the week. Although the Islanders did their best to hang with arguably the best team in the NHL, the Lightning was able to defeat New York, 5-3. Here are the top three players of the week.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brock Nelson
Brock Nelson showed up and showed out last week. Although the team overall only won one of their three games, Nelson continued to show why he could be a difference-maker on the ice. On the week, Nelson picked up three assists in total.
When the Islanders played the Sharks, Nelson was able to help find Lee in the middle of the second period to get the Islanders on the board. But, he wasn't done on the night as Nelson would also help to find Wahlstrom for his first goal of the night which came at the very end of the second period and gave the Islanders the lead, 3-2.
On Saturday when the Islanders played the Lightning, Nelson was able to find Anthony Beauvillier for a goal to keep the Islanders in this game. Unfortunately, it was not to be, but the Islanders' effort was there and Nelson was a big part of it.
⭐️⭐️ Anders Lee
Lee had a great week last week. He showed up in a big way and showed why he is indeed the captain of the New York Islanders. On the season, Lee currently has five points off of two goals and three assists in five games played this year.
In the game against the Sharks, Lee got the Islanders on the board to tie the game at one in the middle of the second period to tie the game at one. This goal came off an assist by Pelech and Nelson, but he wasn't quite done on the week.
“Jeez, I was out there for a couple of celebrations with him,” Lee said. “I mean, the way he ripped those two was great.”
Lee also netted a goal when the Islanders played the Devils. This was the only goal that the Islanders would score, but it kept them from being shut out. The goal came at the end of the game with about three minutes left to play in the third period and was assisted by Palmieri and Barzal.
⭐️ Oliver Wahlstrom
Now, it's no surprise why Wahlstrom is on this list. Wahlstrom had a great week last week and more impressively had himself an incredible game against the Sharks. Wahlstrom scored twice in the 5-2 win in just his third career two-goal game performance.
Wahlstrom's first goal came with under a minute left in the second period to give the Islanders the 3-2 lead. This was assisted by Nelson. His second goal came with roughly 14 and a half minutes left in the third period to extend the Islanders' lead to 4-2. This goal was assisted by Dobson.
I like to shoot from everywhere, I try to catch the goalie off guard. It's something I always worked on when I was younger, but you know it's a good battle. Lee on my first goal was the one who really picked the guy and Brock did all the work on the face-off and I just kind of leaned into my shot.
On the season, Wahlstrom has four points off of three goals and one assist in just five games played so far this season. It is easy to see why Wahlstrom came in the number one spot last week. In his young career, Wahlstrom has already impressed so much and this is just the beginning.