New York Islanders
Rapid Recap: Islanders Chase Vanecek, Get Revenge in 6-4 Victory Over Devils
NEWARK, NJ–The New York Islanders brought the offense as they scored six goals against the surging New Jersey Devils in a 6-4 win. Devils netminder Vitek Vanecek was pulled after allowing four goals.
The Islanders improve to 17-11-0 on th season and get payback for the embarrassing 4-1 loss the last time these two teams met.
LINES
Josh Bailey-Mat Barzal-Oliver Wahlstrom
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson
Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin
SCORES
Nico Hischier gave the New Jersey Devils a 1-0 lead on the power play at 5:32 of the first period as he roofed one on New York Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov. Jesper Bratt and Dougie Hamilton were credited with the assists on Hischier’s 12th of the season.
Brock Nelson scored his team-leading 13th of the season as he beat New Jersey Devils netminder Vitek Vanecek on the wraparound at 15:37 of the first period. Alexander Romanov was credited with the assist as the Islanders tied the contest.
Anders Lee scored his ninth of the season with nine seconds to play in the first to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead as he beat Vanecek glove side from the high slot. Romanov and Scott Mayfield were credited with the assists.
Casey Cizikas gave the Islanders a 3-1 lead at 3:31 of the second period as he finished off a Matt Martin pass for his first of the season. Martin and Clutterbuck were credited with the assists.
Thirty-six seconds later, Oliver Wahlstrom gave the Islanders a 4-1 lead as he buried a Mathew Barzal rebound for his seventh of the season. Barzal and Josh Bailey were credited with the assists at 4:05 of the second.
Dawson Mercer made it a 4-2 game as he finished off a two-on-one, courtesy of a Jack Hughes backdoor pass. Mercer’s seventh of the season was assisted by Hughes and Ryan Graves.
Nelson scored his second of the contest to give the Islanders a 5-2 lead as he beat Arvida Schmid on a power play one-timer for his 14th of the season. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Barzal were credited with the assists at 16:47 of the third.
Cal Clutterbuck scored his third of the season to give the Islanders a 6-2 lead as he beat Schmid from inside the left circle. The goal was unassisted.
Tomas Tatar scored his seventh of the season to make it a 6-3 game as he fooled Varlamov with a toe drag, before sliding the puck through the wickets at 2:30 of the third period.
Jack Hughes scored at 13:39 of the third period to get the Devils within two. The goal came with an extra attacker as Ruff pulled Schmid with over seven minutes to play. Hamilton was credited with the lone assist.
Lee & Wahlstrom Snap Scoreless Streaks
For New York Islanders forwards Anders Lee and Oliver Wahlstrom, goals have been hard to come by as of late. Lee was held scoreless over his last 13 games, while Wahlstrom was without a goal in five.
Both players snapped their streaks, as Lee gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead with nine seconds to play:
Oh what a re-LEE-f it is! Captain Lee puts the #Isles ahead with :09 left in the first! pic.twitter.com/56k6lUYMmy
— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) December 10, 2022
Wahlstrom gave the Islanders a 4-1 lead just over four minutes into the second:
Wahlstrom scores just :21 after Cizikas for the fourth unanswered #Isles goal!
4-1! pic.twitter.com/P6G7B8pRYc
— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) December 10, 2022
The Islanders need more wingers to produce, and against a tough Devils team, they got the production they needed.
Nelson Leads Offensive Outburst
The Islanders scored six goals against an elite New Jersey Devils team, four coming against starter Vitek Vanecek. After going down 1-0, the Islanders flipped a switch and scored at will. They scored four before the Devils could provide an answer and then another two after Dawson Mercer’s goal.
Brock Nelson scored his 13th and 14th goals of the season, adding to his team lead.
Vitek Vanecek Pulled for Arvid Schmid
New Jersey Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek has been on fire this season, but not Friday night.
He allowed four goals on 17 shots as he was relieved by backup Akira Schmid after allowing his fourth goal of the contest just over four minutes into the second period.
Out of the four goals he allowed, one could argue that all were stoppable.
Schmid, in relief, allowed two goals on 15 shots.
Notes:Â Anthony Beauvillier left in the first period and did not return. Cal Clutterbuck also left in the first period but returned wearing a cage.
Next up:Â The New York Islanders are back at home to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM at UBS Arena.