Islanders Beat Capitals 2-1 (SO), Lead Penguins By Six Points
WASHINTON D.C. -- It was not the most exciting of games, but the New York Islanders got the job done, earning two points as they beat the Washington Capitals 2-1 in a shootout.
The win extended the Islanders lead to five games over the Pittsburgh Penguins, who now have two games in hand. The Florida Panthers came back in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they trail the Islandrs by six points with one game in hand.
LINES
Zach Parise-Bo Horvat-Hudson Fasching
Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech-Scott Mayfield
Alexander Romanov-Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc-Noah Dobson
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
RAPID RECAP
The New York Islanders did not allow much in the first period against the Washington Capitals, with netminder Ilya Sorokin only needing to make seven saves.
Sorokin's best save came on a Nic Dowd re-direct, as he was ultra-aggressive on the initial shot.
Despite strong offensive-zone shifts, the Islanders only managed three shots on Capitals netminder Darcy Kuemper.
The second period started with some goals, as Pierre Engvall got the Islanders on the board as hs wrist shot beat Kuemper--off the chest and in--for his 17th of the season.
Brock Nelson was credited with the assist.
Per statistician Eric Hornick, Engvall had scored on Kuemper on each of his last four shots, which included that goal.
Out of Engvall's first five goals with New York, four have given them a 1-0 lead, as he now has goals in two straight.
The Capitals answered a few minutes later, as Connor Sheary roofed a backhander blocker side for his 15th of the season.
Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield tried to chip the puck around the net to a teammate, but the pass was picked off.
After a strong start to the second, it was pretty quiet for the Islanders besides a few rush attempts.
The Capitals had extended zone time in the Islanders zone, outshooting them 17 to 11.
Before the end of the middle frame, Islanders head coach Lane Lambert changed up his lines as Anders Lee and Casey Cizikas were with Bo Horvat, while Zach Parise took a shift with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom.
The lines went back to their original in the third, a period in which the Islanders gave the Capitals absolutely nothing.
"We're just looking for a little something and I really have a reasoning for it, but I'm not going to share that right now," Lambert said on why he reverted it back.
The move worked as the Islanders got out to an 10-0 lead, shot-wise, in the third before the Capitals registered their first of the frame with 8:17 to go.
We got some four-on-four action with six minutes to play, as Mayfield drilled Connor Sheary from behind, called for boarding, with Nicholas Aube-Kubel jumping in, earning himself a roughing penalty.
No goals came of it, but there were chances.
After a semi-exciting overtime, the game went to a shootout, where the Islanders snapped an 0-5 shootout record this season as Sorokin stopped two of three, while Horvat and Palmieri lit the lamp.
Horvat was just the second Islander to score in a shootout this season, with Palmieri becoming the third. The injured Mathew Barzal was the first.
Horvat told The Hockey News Wednesday morning, after scoring an empty netter against the New Jersey Devils Monday, that he wanted to beat a goalie soon, as that tally was his first in 11 games.
Here's what he said after scoring in the shootout, in which he did beat a goalie:
"Definitely felt good to go in. I had a couple of looks there in overtime that I wish would have went in, but ended up getting it back there in the shootout, so definitely felt good," Horvat said.
How did it feel for Sorokin to get the shootout dub?
""Finally, yeah. Nice two goals in the shootout, what I needed. Good win for us."
WHAT'S NEXT: The New York Islanders face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, on Saturday night at 7 PM ET.