Once upon a time, the third period was known as Nightmare Alley to the New York Islanders. Last night at UBS Arena, the final frame turned into The Bluebird of Happiness.
Once upon a time, the third period was known as Nightmare Alley to the New York Islanders.
Last night at UBS Arena, the final frame turned into The Bluebird of Happiness.
What can be happier than a 3-1 win despite Edmonton's Connor McDavid-led juggernaut firing 17 third-period shots at Ilya Sorokin and getting nothing but a goose egg out of it?
Sorokin won the night's first star for stopping a full game total of 31 out of 32 shots and effectively turned the Oilers Juggernaut into -- You'll excuse the expression -- an Ugger-Naught.
"Ilya was huge for us," said Bo Horvat, who scored the game-winning goal. "Then again, he's been HUGE for us all season."
To produce such an amazing feat, the Islanders had to -- well -- be amazing. And, really, what could be more astonishing than a pair of power-play goals followed by Super Simon Holmstrom's league-leading fifth shorthanded goal of the season.
And if that wasn't a thrill enough (It wasn't) Hotshot) Horvat's winner behind goalie Stu Skinner at 11:30 of the middle period extended his career-high point streak to 11 games.
I suggest that Bo's theme song be "Nice Work If You Can Get It, And You Can Get It If You Try." Horvat well deserved the night's second star as he continues to prove to be a superior Lou Lamoriello acquisition.
The Maven would be Mister Remiss if I didn't point out that captain Anders Lee tied the game at 1-1 at 2:39 of the second stanza with assists to Kyle Palmieri and Mat Barzal.
Lee: "We played a good, solid game from start to finish. We had big penalty kills as well as big power play moments, not to mention good five-on-five play.'
Any time a team faces the Oilers a one-goal lead is as strong as tissue paper and that explains the importance of Third Star Simon Holmstrom's shorthander at 14:10 of the second period.
Following a dangerous (What isn't?) Connor McDavid rush that dissolved behind the Isles net, a harmonious Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom two-on-one evolved.
It was a thing of ice beauty as The Flying Frenchman dished a dandy final pass to his ever-improving pal on the right. Goalie Skinner generously offered Our Guy a five-hole, and Simon Said: "I'll take it," and so he did.
"We have good chemistry, "Holmstrom said of his PK unit with Pageau. "We're reading off each other pretty well." (Mave says "very well.")
MSG Networks sensational Islanders director Joel Mandelbaum stepped out of production for a moment to ad-lib that "SHG should now stand for 'Simon Holmstrom Goals'." (P.S. The Maven likes that! And now Joel can get back to production and stay out of my writing!)
Furthermore, since Barzal assisted on Goal One and Noah Dobson got a helper on Goal Two, the pair each has 33 points, tying them for the team lead.
As for Nelson, his assist on Bo's goal means that when Nelly gets a helper, the Isles are 9-0-2 for the season so far.
Don't go away until I also tell you that the hungry Oilers had a five-on-three power play advantage for 58 seconds, and you know what they got out of that, gurnisht.
"We had good blocks," concluded coach Lane Lambert. Then, a pause: "Make those huge blocks."
And when the Oilers had an opportunity, our goalie made the save. All in all, our guys were prepared!"
They had better be prepared for the biggie tonight when they visit, challenging Alex Ovechkin and his Capitals at 7:30 p.m. (This Metropolitan Division playoff race is white hot!)