Pageau Scores Go-Ahead Goal, Shows Off Smarts in 4-2 Win Over Ottawa

For Jean-Gabriel Pageau, he’s looked like himself so far this season. No, the goals hadn’t been coming with just one in 16 games, that one being an empty-netter. But his play in the defensive zone, five-on-five, and on the penalty kill, along with his face-off dominancy, had played a critical role in the Islanders’ 10-6-0 record.

On Tuesday night, in the 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, Jean-Gabriel Pageau played a significant role in that record now reading 11-6-0.

Pageau, the Ottawa native and former Senators stat line read one shot, one goal, three hits, two blocks in 20:01 TOI, but there was more to that story.

Pageau came through on the power play for the eventual game-winning marker and played a total of 3:34 of the 4:07 minutes the Islanders were up a man.

Following a blocked Noah Dobson shot, Pageau reacted quickly and smacked a bouncing puck on the backhand past Ottawa Senators netminder Cam Talbot for his second goal of the season. 

JGP back in Canada's capital city extends the #Isles lead 😤 pic.twitter.com/UWy9ke7ViS

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) November 15, 2022

Power-play ping-pong power?

The Ottawa native also helped the penalty kill deny five of six infractions. Pageau played 5:09 minutes on the kill and also won three of five face-offs while shorthanded.

While on the penalty kill, there was an instance when Scott Mayfield broke his stick. Following a defensive zone clear, Pageau skated to the top of the zone, dropped his stick, and went to the bench to get another stick.

Some players, in this instance, may have just taken their stick and got back in the play. But Pageau wanted Mayfield’s stick and got it.

Islanders were pinned back in their zone before the exchange could be made, but eventually, it happened.

MSG Networks Brendan Burke and Butch Goring broke the play down.

JGP breaks down his heads up play to leave his stick for Mayfield as he retrieves a new one for Scotty and then they swap back while play continues 🤔 pic.twitter.com/GGxCDJbeom

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) November 15, 2022

It was a heads-up play by an intelligent hockey player late in the second period. The successful kill allowed the New York Islanders to take a 2-1 lead into the third period, ultimately winning the game 4-2.