Duck, Duck, Goals: Islanders Dominate Anaheim, 7-1 Blowout

ELMONT, NY— The New York Islanders poured on the goals against the Anaheim Ducks, as they won their first game of the season by a score of 7-1. That was the Islanders first win of the season.

ISLANDERS LINES

Lee-Nelson-Beauvillier
Parise-Barzal-Palmieri
Bailey-Pageau-Wahlstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Pelech-Pulock
Romanov-Dobson
Salo-Mayfield

Sorokin
Varlamov

SCORERS

The New York Islanders got on the scoreboard first as Scott Mayfield jumped on a loose puck after Anders Lee drove to the net hard following an odd-man rush. Lee and Anthony Beauvillier were credited with the assists at 10:34 of the first period.

The Islanders doubled their lead as Noah Dobson’s pass to Matt Martin deflected off a Duck and in at 12:08 of the first period.

Oliver Wahlstrom gave the New York Islanders a 3-0 as he beat John Gibson on the breakaway, via a Frans Nielsen-esque move. Jean-Gabriel Pageau sent him on his merry way as he notched the lone assist at 5:34 of the second period.

Mayfield scored his second of the contest as he beat Gibson high blocker-side from the point to give the Islanders a 4-0 lead at 12:55 of the second period. Mathew Barzal and Zach Parise were credited with the assists.

Anthony Beauvillier made it 5-0 Islanders at 14:27 of the second period as he finished off a Ryan Pulock backdoor pass. Pulock and Anders Lee were credited with the assists.

Troy Terry got the Anaheim Ducks on the board at 1:29 of the third period following a defensive turnover.

Robin Salo gave the Islanders a 6-1 lead at 13:03 of the third period as his point shot snuck under Ducks netminder Alex Stolarz. The goal was assisted by Mat Barzal and Anders Lee.

Salo made it a 7-1 game with 57.7 seconds to go in the third. Oliver Wahlstrom and Brock Nelson were credited with the assists.

Absolute Domination

Like the New York Islanders did on Thursday, they came out of the gate strong, firing on all cylinders. The Islanders registered 14 shots on goal to the Ducks’ six after twenty minutes and scored twice to take a 2-0 lead into the second period.

Their transition game was dominant from the get-go, getting odd-man rushes with ease. Their ability to hold pucks in the Ducks’ zone paid off as the defense got shots on goal and the Islanders capitalized.

Scott Mayfield scored his first of the season, and Noah Dobson scored his second goal of the season in the first period, as the defense has been highly involved, just the way Lane Lambert wants it.

That strong start bled into the second as the Islanders scored another two, followed by another two in the third for a seven-goal night.

In 2021-22, the Islanders scored six goals just three times.

The Islanders finished the night with 38 shots on goal as that aggressive system came to play, and play they did for sixty minutes.

Lane Lambert picked up his first win as Islanders head coach, and the Islanders scored seven goals for the first time at UBS Arena.

Gibson’s Night Ends Early

The New York Islanders chased Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson from his goal after two periods of play. Gibson, who was hung out to dry, was not at his best as his rebound control was weak early, and a few goals that he allowed should have been stopped.

John Gibson allowed five goals on 23 shots.

Per Natural Stat Trick, Gibson had a 2.47 expected goals against, as he just did not play to the elite level he usually plays at.

Islanders Penalty Kill Remain Perfect

The New York Islanders’ penalty kill was perfect in their opening-night loss on Thursday. They denied all five power-play chances against, allowing just seven shots.

On Saturday night, against the Anaheim Ducks, the Islanders killed off all four power-play chances against. They allowed just two shots on goal, which came on the Ducks’ five-on-three opportunity.

New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin, while the Islanders were shorthanded, had a 0.07 expected goals against.

Up Next: The New York Islanders host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Puck drop is at 7:30 PM