New York Islanders

Rapid Reaction: Nelson Scores 3, Islanders Edge Stars 4-2

Published

2 years ago

March 19, 2022

ELMONT – The New York Islanders recorded their second straight win, as they downed the Dallas Stars by a score of 4-2. The Islanders move to 26-24-9 on the season and have now won five of their last six games.

ISLANDERS LINES:

Lee–Nelson–Beavuillier

Bailey–Pageau–Palmieri

Parise–Barzal–Wahlstrom

Martin–Cizikas–Clutterbuck

Pelech–Pulock

Chara–Dobson

Greene–Mayfield

Varlamov

HOW IT HAPPENED

Ryan Pulock gave the New York Islanders a 1-0 lead as his slapshot, clocked in at 100.8 mph, beat Dallas Stars netminder Jake Oettinger through a screen and through the wickets less than four minutes into the second period. Adam Pelech and Cal Clutterbuck were credited with the assists on Pulock’s second of the season.

The Dallas Stars tied the contest at 1-1 at 18:46 of the second period as Denis Garianov finished off a 2 on 1, as he beat New York Islanders Semyon Varlamov for his 10th of the season. Jacob Peterson and Ryan Suter were credited with the assists.

The Islanders took the lead again just over four minutes into the third period on the power play. Brock Nelson’s wrist shot hit Oettinger’s shoulder and in for his 25th of the season. Noah Dobson and Mathew Barzal were credited with the assists on Nelson’s goal at 4:17 of the third.

Brock Nelson extend the Islanders lead to 3-1 as he finished off a pass from Anthony Beauvillier at 5:55 of the third period. Beauvillier and Anders Lee were credited with the assists.

The Dallas Stars made it a 3-2 game with 9:21 to go in the third as Jacob Peterson scored from the low slot. Peterson’s 10th of the season was assisted by Tyler Seguin and Gurianov.

Brock Nelson scored his third of the game, an empty netter, to give the Islanders a 4-2 lead with 20 seconds to go in the third.

Brock’s Brilliancy

New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson has been the most consistent offensive producer this season. With the Islanders tied at one, Brock Nelson scored a pair in the third period and then one on the empty net.

Brock scores 2 back 2 back (and how about that beauty from Beau???) pic.twitter.com/CThGlaINDZ

— Isles on MSG+ (@IslesMSGN) March 19, 2022

Nelson now has eight goals over his last eight games and his 27 on the season is a new career-high.

With his first of the game, Brock Nelson now has the most goals ever by a 30th overall pick in NHL history, now with 195 career goals.

“I don’t think I have had one in a period like that,” Nelson said on all three goals coming in the final frame. “But I mean, you’re trying to go out there… you get one, feels good. You’re not really thinking I mean, you’re trying to go out there and get chances obviously and when that chance comes, be ready for it.”

Islanders Score First Again

For the fifth time in six games, the eighth time in nine games, the New York Islanders found the scoreboard first. It took until the second period for a second straight game, but, on the flip side, that means the Islanders defense has been doing a strong enough job, including goaltending, to get to the second without a goal against.

And that’s been critical to the Islanders success as of late.

Although the Islanders did not hold onto the lead, they were able to score one in the second and three in the third on their way to the 4-2 win.

“I think that’s a big part of what we like doing. Obviously, no one wants to chase the game and some teams are better than others,” Ryan Pulock said. “So if we can get that lead and play our way and continue to forecheck and, you know, teams start taking chances to try to catch up and I think that’s where we’re good at kind of exploiting that and capitalizing on that.”

The Islanders are now 21-6-5 when scoring first this season, 10-3-1 on home ice.

Varlamov Stands Tall

New York Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov has played much stronger hockey as of late and again he was strong as he turned aside 37 of 39 in the 4-2 win.

Varlamov had a handful of big-time saves. His stop on Michael Raffl late in the first period allowed the Islanders to eventually take the lead in the second, rather than be trailing after the first twenty.

Out of the 39 shots Varlamov faced, 11 were considered high-danger shots. Both goals against were high-danger shot, two goals that Varlamov had very little chance on.

The Islanders have recorded points in Varlamov’s last three starts (2-0-1) and if this was his last start as a member of the New York Islanders, it was a good one.

Ryan Revs Up

New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock has a knack for shooting pucks hard. And his rocket of a shot was on display in the second period, as he beat Dallas Stars netminder with a 100.8 mph shot. Not only was the shot on target, but Oettinger was screened on the play.