Islanders Win in Long Awaited Return (Highlights)

After 12 long, LONG, days the New York Islanders finally returned to action and took on the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena. Out of the gate, it wasn't the start the Islanders were hoping for. Ilya Sorokin let in a soft one to Yegor Sharangovich.

Sorokin looked like he hasn't seen game action in 12 days with that one. He'd admit he'd want that one back.

Right before the close of the period, the Islanders were sent to a power play and on that man advantage it was Josh Bailey with his second of the season.

It wasn't anything pretty. He just went to the front of the net and put a good effort in and was rewarded for it. Josh Bailey has struggled this year, especially in the goal column, so it was nice to see him get one here and get the team back in the game before the close of the first frame.

In the second, this game definitely calmed down. Each team had 14 shots in the first but in the second, New Jersey had six to the Islanders five. One of those five was an Adam Pelech shot from the point that was deflected in off a defenseman.

On this play, Zach Parise picked his second assist up on the night and Kieffer Bellows had a secondary assist as well. Bellows now has eight points in his last eight games and can not come out of the lineup for Kyle Palmieri. Just can't happen.

In the third, it was relatively quiet at first. Things got a little chippy when Oliver Wahlstrom had a huge hit on Jimmy Vesey. Nathan Bastian took exception and took a roughing penalty. The next bit of play was a majority of 5 on 4.

The Devils killed the Islanders power play, then Adam Pelech took a tripping call on Bastian fresh out fo the box and once that power play expired Brock Nelson cross checked Michael McLeod. That one was too much.

On the Devils fifth power play of the night, Nathan Bastian was able to get one past Ilya Sorokin on the deflection. You can't give a team that many chances and expect not to get burned.

At 15:07, Josh Bailey and Mat Barzal played hero:

That would do it. The Islanders now have three wins in a row and points in five straight games. They are back in action again on Saturday taking on the Washington Capitals.