The New York Islanders defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 at UBS Arena on Thursday. It was a game that featured 36 penalty minutes between the teams, but Noah Dobson’s third period goal helped New York overcome a blown 2-0 lead.
ELMONT, NY – The New York Islanders defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 at UBS Arena on Thursday.
It was a game that featured 36 penalty minutes between the teams, but Noah Dobson’s third period goal helped New York overcome a blown 2-0 lead.
After struggling to find their footing in the early stages of games, the Islanders got the hot start they were looking for. Ottawa's Rourke Chartier took an interference minor, and Bo Horvat knocked in a rebound off of a Kyle Palmieri deflection, giving the Islanders a 1-0 lead on the power play at 2:42 of the first.
Dobson tallied the secondary assist on Horvat’s goal. The helper extended his point streak to five games, totaling two goals and five assists in that span.
The Islanders continued the pressure as the period continued, adding to their lead 11 minutes later. Casey Cizikas stripped the puck from Mark Kastelic, danced behind the net and found Cal Clutterbuck alone in front. Clutterbuck beat Joonas Korpisalo upstairs for his second goal in as many games, giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead.
While the Islanders dominated the first, the Senators owned the second. Much of the Islanders’ issues were due to penalty trouble, taking a whopping six minor penalties and a fighting major in the frame. After short-circuiting a power play with two infractions in nine seconds, Claude Giroux let a screened shot go that beat Sorokin, on the ensuing four-on-three, cutting the Islander lead in half.
With Ottawa’s continued momentum, Jakob Chycrun’s shot through traffic got past Sorokin to tie it at two at 12:25 of the second.
Ottawa kept the momentum going in the third period, but Sorokin kept the Islanders even with several key saves. After a sloppy Ottawa change, Horvat and Mat Barzal broke into Ottawa ice. After setting up, Horvat found a trailing Dobson who unleashed a howitzer past Korpisalo, giving the Islanders a 3-2 lead.
Barzal’s primary assist helped him match Dobson’s point streak at five. Barzal owns a goal and four assists in that span.
Sorokin finished the night with 45 saves, holding down the Senators in the closing minutes to seal the victory.
However, the concern for both teams throughout the night was the health of Erik Brannstrom . The defenseman landed awkwardly following a hit from Clutterbuck, requiring EMS assistance to leave the ice. The Senators said he is alert and receiving care at a local hospital.
UP NEXT: The Islanders head to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets (3–2-1) at Nationwide Arena on Saturday night at 7 PM.
LINES:
Anders Lee -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Oliver Wahlstrom
Matt Martin -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech -- Noah Dobson
Alexander Romanov -- Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc -- Sebastian Aho
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov