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    Stefen Rosner
    Stefen Rosner
    Jan 5, 2024, 04:31

    After a strong first period but a mediocre second, the New York Islanders came out strong in the third en route to a 5-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes.

    After a strong first period but a mediocre second, the New York Islanders came out strong in the third en route to a 5-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes.

    TEMPE, AZ -- After a strong first period but a mediocre second, the New York Islanders came out strong in the third en route to a 5-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes. 

    The Islanders made quick work of their first power play of the game, as Bo Horvat scored his 15th of the season 11 seconds into the man advantage to give his club the early 1-0 lead. 

    After Dobson's point shot was blocked, Horvat corraled the loose puck before depositing it over the left shoulder of Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram. 

    Dobson earned his 31st assist of the season, while Brock Nelson picked up the secondary assist, his 16th assist of the season. 

    Mike Reilly doubled the Islanders' lead to 2-0 at 12:02 of the first after Mathew Barzal found him creeping in before he roofed one glove slide for his third of the season.  

    The Islanders couldn't carry over their strong first-period play, as penalties became an issue. 

    After Reilly went off for cross-checking 1:25 into the middle frame, Cal Clutterbuck joined him after he got called for a slash at 3:16 of the middle frame, leading to a 5-on-3 opportunity for the Coyotes. 

    The Islanders did kill off the Reilly penalty but couldn't kill Clutterbuck's as Nick Schmaltz buried from the left dot off a strong feed from Sean Durzi at 3:29 of the second to cut the Islander's lead to 2-1. 

    Anders Lee extended the Islanders lead to 3-1 at 4:29 of the third after strong forechecking by Barzal saw the puck land right on his stick. His shot beat Ingram through the wickets for his 11th of the season. 

    Fifty-three seconds later, Julien Gauthier sniped Ingram blocker side off the rush from the left dot to give the Islanders a 4-1 lead. His fifth of the season was assisted by Simon Holmstrom and Noah Dobson. 

    Horvat added his second of the game at 13:05 of the third as he roofed one on the breakaway for his 16th of the season. 

    UP NEXT: The Islanders battle the Golden Knights in Vegas on Saturday night at 10 PM ET. 

    LINES: 

    Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal

    Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri

    Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Julien Gauthier

    Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck

    Alex Romanov - Noah Dobson

    Samuel Bolduc - Scot Mayfield

    Mike Reilly - Sebastian Aho

    Ilya Sorokin

    Ken Appleby