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New York Islanders

Islanders Win the Battle, Defeat Golden Knights 5-2 at The Fortress

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New York Islanders

LAS VEGAS–The New York Islanders bounced back on Saturday night as they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 at T-Mobile Arena. Netminder Semyon Varlamov continued his strong play while two fill-ins lit the lamp in the win.

The Islanders are now 18-13-1.

LINES:

Anders Lee-Mat Barzal-Oliver Wahlstrom
Josh Bailey-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Hudson Fasching

Robin Salo-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin

GOALS:

Anders Lee gave the New York Islanders a 1-0 lead at 18:58 of the first period as he beat Vegas Golden Knights netminder Logan Thompson over the blocker from the slot for his 10th of the season. Anthony Beauvillier and Robin Salo were credited with the assists.

Reilly Smith tied the contest at one as he buried a loose puck on the power play for his 15th of the season at 1:11 of the first period. The goal was unassisted.

Hudson Fasching gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead ta 4:30 of the second period as he cut around Alex Pietrangelo before crashing the net and beating Thompson for his second of the season. Sebastian Aho was credited with the lone assist.

Simon Holmstrom scored his first NHL goal at 17:36 of the second to give the Islandes a 3-1 lead as he made a strong move in the slot before rifling the puck home. Zach Parise and Jean-Gabriel Pageau were credited with the assists.

Smith scored his second power-play goal of the night as he rifled one over the glove of Varlamov for his 16th of the season to make it a 3-2 game at 3:29 of the third. Pietrangelo and Chandler Stevenson were credited with the assists.

Brock Nelson and Zach Parise scored empty-net goals.

Semyon Varlamov Stellar

New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov has bounced back this season after a disastrous 2021-22 season. And he continued his strong play against the Vegas Golden Knights as he stopped 36 of 38 on his way to his eighth win of the season and has now won four of his last five games, which includes a shootout loss to the Boston Bruins.

His best save of the night came early in the first period against Nicolas Roy as he robbed him with the glove.

That allowed the Islanders to eventually take the lead and build on it.

With Ilya Sorokin struggling, Varlamov has rose to the occasion.

Varlamov left late in the third period, and was replaced by Sorokin.

Fasching Continues to Impress

While Cal Clutterbuck was out of the lineup for a few games, the Islanders called up 27-year-old Hudson Fasching. When in the lineup, Fasching provided strong play all around, scoring a goal in his second game with the Islanders.

After three games, Clutterbuck returned. But Fasching remained up with the club as an extra forward.

With Clutterbuck out of the lineup again Saturday night, Fasching got back in and made his minutes count as he gave the Islandes a 2-1 lead in the second period after a strong move toward the Vegas goal.

Fasching has two goals in four games as an Islander and is making his presence felt on every shift.

Holmstrom Scores First NHL Goal

New York Islanders rookie Simon Holmstrom had gone 10 games without a goal. He’d played rather strong defensively, but the offense just was not there.

After a few strong offensive shifts against the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday night, it seemed like his first NHL goal was coming. And sure enough, it did, as he gave the Islanders a 3-1 lead late in the second period.

Up next: The New York Islanders face the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena Monday night, with puck drop at 7 PM MST.

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