The Islanders kept rolling and kept pace in the East with a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, buoyed by a 3-0 first period including two Anders Lee power play goals that sent him ahead of Brock Nelson in the all-time franchise rankings.
The win was tempered by the sight of Bo Horvat going down, quite uncomfortably and splits-like, in the second period and leaving the game for good. Patrick Roy said afterward that Horvat is “day to day,” so hopefully they’ve got a strong indication of no structural damage to the Isles’ leading scorer.
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David Rittich made 31 saves and had one attempt at an empty net goal (clairvoyantly predicted by Thomas Hickey on another night of great color commentary), and Travis Mitchell opened scoring with his first NHL goal.
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Errata
Tony DeAngelo had two good assists on Lee’s goals, simply sending tippable pucks toward the net for Lee to do as he does in his office. One was a tip-in, the other one was deflected on its way to Lee’s body, allowing the captain to retrieve it and slip it around Ville Husso.
Speaking of slipping around Husso: the pivotal goal came with the Islanders leading only 3-2 after giving up an early shorthander in the third. Simon Holmstrom took a neutral zone outlet, spun without breaking stride, then burst around Olen “don’t call me Rene” Zellweger before using his long reach to get around Husso. Both Ducks probably should’ve handled it better, but nobody expects the Simon stick extension.
Up 3-0, possibly a little unfair to the Ducks based on play and the fact that the Isles were getting all the power plays, the Isles had a couple golden chances to bust the game open. But Adam Pelech’s point shot rang the post shortly after a great combo with Max Shabanov and Emil Heineman sent the Isles winger through the slot before he lost the handle. It felt like missing those might haunt them, and they almost did as the Ducks got one back in the second and another early in the third.
Fun to hear Cal Clutterbuck talk about battling Radko Gudas (after replays of Marc Gatcomb stapling him to the boards) and his own approach to empty net goals — shooting hard from distance rather than trying to place them — after Lee’s attempt at a hat trick from center ice went just wide.
So Lee had to settle for a four-point night; Holmstrom had three.
This was or very well could’ve been a close game. The Ducks missed some golden chances early and Rittich also pulled out some saves to keep it 0-0 and later to keep it 3-0 for a while. Overall, well played game by the Isles though.
The Holmstrom goal, simply a beauty and at a perfect time:
The Horvat injury (trigger warning for those with groins or ankles):
Up Next
It’s Pat LaFontaine Night on Saturday, and even Billy Smith (who was in attendance tonight, next to Bryan Trottier) will be there. It will be the third meeting in two weeks with the Lightning, who are suddenly stumbling and will want revenge to avoid the season sweep.