The New York Islanders have won four straight games, seven of eight, and are 8-0-2 at the Barclays Center after the Vancouver Canucks win.
- New York Islanders (15-7-2, 32 points) 5
- Vancouver Canucks (11-10-4, 26 points) 2
- NYI Goals: Andrew Ladd (6), Calvin de Haan (1), Jordan Eberle (10), Anders Lee (13), John Tavares (16)
- VAN Goals: Thomas Vanek (6), Bo Horvat (10)
- NHL Final, Box Score
Breaking News: The Islanders are an elite hockey team.
The New York Islanders went back to work on Tuesday night, downing former Islander Travis Green’s Vancouver Canucks 5-2. With the win, the Islanders have won their 15th game of the season, something that took them until Dec. 31 last year.
The Breakdown
Andrew Ladd gets things started with something the Islanders had been on the receiving end of — a short-handed goal. The B.C. native had goals in each of the two meetings last season and got things off to a fast start tonight.
Bar down. Breakaway. Shorty.
Make it all three for @aladd16. pic.twitter.com/DbZMoDj6e4
— NHL (@NHL) November 29, 2017
Former Islander Thomas Vanek would tie the game for the Canucks just about a minute later, but Calvin de Haan came in clutch with his first of the season with a little over three minutes to go in the first.
First goal of the season for @cal_dehaan #Isles pic.twitter.com/o3Ll1HVMPD
— IslesBlog (@IslesBlog) November 29, 2017
Mathew Barzal is continuing to dazzle Islanders fans and hockey fans league-wide, his heads-up play finds Jordan Eberle after a slick pass from Johnny Boychuk for a 3-1 Islanders lead and Eberle’s 400th career point.
Eberle & Barzal 4EVA!
Eberle’s 400th career point! #Isles pic.twitter.com/tnDSZ4dGmc
— IslesBlog (@IslesBlog) November 29, 2017
Less than four minutes into the second period, Anders Lee is the beneficiary of a fortuitous bounce off the skate of Sven Baertschi and that’s his 13th of the season.
Thank you very much! 4-1 #Isles pic.twitter.com/Ppf9p88VAs
— IslesBlog (@IslesBlog) November 29, 2017
Jaroslav Halak needed to build off his effort in the Islanders’ win against Ottawa, and he delivered tonight, allowing only two goals on 25 shots and making saves such as this one here.
Ja-ro! Ja-ro! #Isles pic.twitter.com/ozpctzkoPL
— IslesBlog (@IslesBlog) November 29, 2017
Lastly, John Tavares roofs a feed from Lee for his 16th of the year and ices the win for the Islanders.
This team is fun (and good) #Isles pic.twitter.com/crkm6jpfIe
— IslesBlog (@IslesBlog) November 29, 2017
Takeaways
The last two games have been huge for the Islanders, as they continue to whittle down their goals-allowed while picking up their goalie’s stats. Halak had a .920 save percentage tonight, coupled with his .969 in his last start against Ottawa.
In their past two games, the Islanders have adjusted to a brand of hockey they want to continue playing — not allowing more than two goals. Given the team’s recent success, it will be interesting to see who draws into the lineup for their next contest, and particularly, if Doug Weight will continue to roll with Jaroslav Halak.
And Mathew Barzal had no points in the first five games this season. 24 points in the last 19 games.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) November 29, 2017
Mathew Barzal is riding a six-game point streak and picks up his ninth tonight with the assist on Eberle’s goal.
Speaking of Eberle, he only had six assists through his first 10 games. In his last 13 games, he has nine goals and 11 points.
Josh Ho-Sang has been settling back into the NHL since his return, in his seven games back the crafty winger has two goals and two assists, including one tonight on de Haan’s goal.
The Islanders will look to extend their home point-streak this Friday against the Ottawa Senators at the Barclays Center, puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. on MSG+.
