ELMONT, NY — Due to the NHLThe expansion to 32 teams was necessary while also requiring that all 32 teams play at least one road match in every building. RangersOn Wednesday night, they made their one and only visit to UBS Arena.
And while it’s an utter, inexcusable disgrace that that’s the case, for the Islanders, the timing ended up being ideal. The Islanders needed an emotional, memorable win under new coach Lane Lambert. They rode their goalie Ilya SorokinThey won 3-0 at UBS Arena, after having struggled to find their offensive game in the first half. The win ended their three-game losing streak and brought their record to 3-4-0. It also increased the Rangers’ winless streak to four games (0-2-2).
“I think we’re spoiled when we get these games,” said Josh BaileyHe scored his first goal of this season. “The atmosphere is incredible.”
HEYYYYYYYY JOSH BAILEY pic.twitter.com/7Tzg5oM90A
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 27, 2022
Said Lambert: “Those games are fun to play. They’re energetic. And it was a good game for us to have at this point, an emotional game like that.”
While it wasn’t a perfect effort, it is something off of which to build, particularly after the IslandersIt was the first time that the lost games were brought to the attention of the Devils, LightningAnd Panthers in different ways — none of them encouraging. This weekend is difficult with Raleigh’s games this Friday and home against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. AvalancheWe will learn more about the Islanders team on Saturday.
This was the one they needed in the interim, after a weekend trip to the Sunshine State. A slew red flags.
Unsurprisingly, it started with Sorokin, who seems to have the ability to raise his game in these kinds of situations — such as last season when he out-dueled countryman Igor Shesterkin at Madison Square Garden in what was easily the Islanders’ The most exciting winIn a second period, they were basically just playing the string.
Sorokin landed on his right pad in the first period of the match. Julien GauthierHe blew past the defenseman Sebastian AhoTwo minutes into the match, he was denied. He denied it later in the frame. Kaapo KakkoHe also did a fine job at the net, which was a refreshing move. Scott MayfieldDriving into the blue paint and pushing hard.
Sorokin also assisted in the killing of two Rangers power plays, which was a late-first-period minor tormentor. Anders LeeThat carried over into the second phase, and a Jean-Gabriel PageauReduce penalty at the beginning of the second. This allowed Kyle PalmieriWho smacked a shot in the high slot past Jaroslav Halak at 8:44 of the middle frame, the first of two for the winger, who hadn’t scored through the first six games.
That goal also ended a scoreless streak of more than 102 minutes without an even-strength marker for the Islanders, who had been having particular trouble generating dangerous chances — a trend that carried over into the first period on Wednesday, too, while Sorokin was busy on the other end.
“The first period wasn’t enough,” Lambert said. “But I thought when the momentum shifted in the game for us was when we started to get pucks in deep and we started to use our forecheck. When we’re able to do that, then it translates into opportunities and our defensemen get involved (with) shots, and net-front presence.”
Bailey’s goal at 5:37 of the third period, his first of the season, came on a pretty redirection off of a feed from Adam PelechHe went on the net and it was a good thing.
It wouldn’t have been possible without Sorokin who had 41 saves and his first shutout this season. He has a healthy.931 save rate and 2.26 goals against the average in five games and is continuing to cement his reputation as one the best in the league.
“Every game with the Rangers is a lot of fun. Emotion for fans, and for us too,” Sorokin said.
How about the pesky, worrying losing streak that hangs over their heads?
“I don’t think about losing streak,” Sorokin said. “Every day it’s a new day. I try to show 100 percent every day.”
Even with Palmieri and Bailey getting rid of the goose eggs beside their names, the Islanders’ forward group still has some question marks. An unexpected transaction took place earlier in day. Former first round pick Kieffer bellows was forward. Placed on waivers.
There’s a decent chance that Bellows will get claimed at 2 p.m. on Thursday, but if not, he’ll head to AHL Bridgeport. Lambert did not comment on Bellows’ situation after the game.
The roster also includes the men. Anthony BeauvillierHe played what was probably his most successful game of the season, even though he was a healthy scratch Sunday. He was the Islanders’ top scorer with five goals and almost scored in the third period.
Notable was also: Oliver WahlstromGet a shot Mathew Barzal’s line — the third straight game that Barzal has started a game with different linemates. That line, with Bailey on the other side, was the Islanders’ best, including Bailey’s goal and a shot-attempt percentage of 71.4 (10 for, 4 against).
“To me, it looked like there was a little bit something there,” Lambert said, when asked about Wahlstrom.
Said Palmieri: “Up and down the lineup everyone contributed tonight. Towards the end especially, everybody did a great job.”
The Islanders, who have now won six of their last nine with the Rangers, will visit Madison Square Garden twice — on Nov. 8 and Dec. 22.
(Photo of Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin and Rangers’ Julien Gauthier: Tom Horak / USA Today)
