The Upshot: Islanders hold on for gutsy 4-3 win in Buffalo to snap losing streak

HOW IT HAPPENED

Playing without Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat had a goal and an assist to lead the New York Islanders to a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. Maxim Tsplakov also had a goal and assist and Kyle Palmieiri scored the power-play for the Islanders. Jean-Gabriel Pageau also added a goal in the third period and Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves in the win which ended a three-game losing streak. Devon Levi finished with 32 stops for the Sabres. Dylan Cozens, Jason Zucker and Owen Power were the goal scorers for Buffalo

WHAT WENT RIGHT

It would have been easy for the Islanders to have a built-in excuse heading into Friday night's game and the list of excuses grew as the game went on with injuries resulting in being down two defenseman for more than half the game. Yet, the Isles, in desperate need of players to step up and got that from a new-look line of JG Pageau, Bo Horvat, and Anders Lee. The veterans combined for five points and both Horvat and Pageau scored in response to Sabres goals. Lee registered two assists to continue his strong start to the season.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Injury news before the game was followed by injuries during the game.

Earlier in the day the team announced that Mathew Barzal headed back to Long Island to be evaluated for an upper-body injury suffered in the 2-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Things got worse during the game as Adam Pelech left in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. The team was further shorthanded on the blueline when Mike Reilly landed hard on his helmet following a clean hit from Jordan Greenway and needed assistance of the ice. It was a scary scene as Reilly laid motionless for a while and the stretcher was brought out before he came off with help from his teammates and training staff.

Alexander Romanov, who had missed the prior two games left the game but did return.

STATS OF THE GAME

Per Eric Hornick The Skinny, Ilya Sorokin has allowed only 12 goals in his first six games (2.00 GAA, .928 save percentage). It is the first time he has allowed fewer than thirteen goals through six games.

With the Isles leading 3-1 early in the third, Sorokin stopped Jason Zucker on a penalty shot to maintain the two-goal advantage. "I don't want to explain the penalty shot, but he's one of the best goalies in the game,” head coach Patrick Roy said. “There's a reason for that, and he made that big save there."

SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT OF THE GAME

Maxim Tsplakov had his most impactful game in weeks, including this tremendous individual effort that broke a 1-1 tie early in the second period. The Russian rookie picked up a loose puck in his own zone, raced down the right side and then cut across to finish the unassisted goal.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Islanders are back in New York to end their three-game road trip when they battle the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop for the matinee is set for 1:00 PM EDT.