Guts Lead To Glory In Islanders Third Straight Win

The New York Islanders showed their heart by earning a gutsy win over the Ottawa Senators on Friday night at Canadian Tire Centre by a final of 5-3.

The victory improved the Islanders’ record to 8-6-5 and established their first winning streak of the season.

Despite the game beginning in the worst way imaginable for the Islanders, five different players handled the offense on a record-setting night for the franchise, while Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves on 31 shots in the win.

Here are the key takeaways from the night that was in Canada’s capital.

Defense Works Overtime:

The Islanders played the majority of the game thin on the blueline as Adam Pelech and Sebastian Aho both exited in quick succession during the first period. Neither returned to the game.

As a result, Noah Dobson, Ryan Pulock, Alexander Romanov and Scott Mayfield all played extended minutes for the Islanders.

Dobson logged a game-high of 31:05 ice time, surpassing his career high, which he set earlier this season. Romanov established a new career high as well, playing 30:02.

Lane Lambert did not provide any update on either Pelech or Aho postgame.

Despite playing without two of their defensemen, the Islanders allowed just one goal in three penalty-killing situations.

Islanders Set New Franchise Record:

It was not a night to write home about for Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg, with the low point coming when he became a footnote in the Islanders’ record books.

Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee scored a pair of goals just six seconds apart for the two fastest goals ever scored by the franchise against a single goaltender.

Barzal picked up his fifth goal of the season on the power play by ripping a shot from the slot over the stick of Forsberg with assists from Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson.

Off the ensuing faceoff, Oliver Wahlstrom and Lee charged into the offensive zone as the Islanders captain potted his fourth goal of the season and his third in his last four games.

Along with Barzal and Lee, Wahlstrom, Kyle Palmieri and Simon Holmstrom contributed to the scoring for the Islanders as well.

Third Line Shows Life:

The Islanders’ third line has battled through inconsistency all season, cycling wingers in and out alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

Lately, though, the trio of Pageau, Lee and Wahlstrom has shown signs of life and had its best performance so far in Ottawa, combining for a total of five.

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