Islanders Secure Back-to-Back Wins with 4-2 Victory Over Senators

The New York Islanders wrapped up their weekend with an impressive 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night, marking their second consecutive win. The Isles showcased resilience, despite being outshot, to level their record at 11-11-7 in the NHL standings.

Scoring Breakdown

• Islanders Goals: Anders Lee (PPG), Kyle MacLean, Kyle Palmieri (PPG), Bo Horvat (ENG)
• Senators Goals: Adam Gaudette, Josh Norris (PPG)

Ilya Sorokin starred in goal, stopping 29 of 31 shots just a day after his last outing. Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Anton Forsberg saved 9 of 13 shots in a tough outing.

This win marked the first time since October 31, 2000, that the Islanders won a game with 13 shots or fewer, emphasizing their efficiency in this match.

Game Recap

First Period: Trading Early Blows

The Senators came out firing, with Thomas Chabot and Shane Pinto testing Sorokin early. Ottawa broke through at 5:37, as Adam Gaudette capitalized on a rebound to give the Sens a 1-0 lead.

However, the Islanders responded with two quick goals:

• Anders Lee scored on the power play, converting a rebound from Noah Dobson’s shot at 12:27.
• Kyle MacLean redirected a shot from Dennis Cholowski just two minutes later to make it 2-1.

Second Period: Senators Equalize

Ottawa leveled the game early in the second period, with Josh Norris scoring a power-play goal from the right circle. Sorokin stood tall, denying Ottawa’s top scorer Tim Stützle on a breakaway to keep the score tied heading into the final period.

Third Period: Isles Pull Away

The Islanders regained the lead at 13:46, with Kyle Palmieri converting a power-play goal off a pass from Lee. Bo Horvat sealed the victory with an empty-netter, scoring for the second straight game.

Special Teams Shine

The Islanders’ power-play unit went a perfect 2-for-2, a stark improvement over their struggles earlier in the season. Their penalty kill also played a pivotal role, allowing just one goal on three opportunities, including a crucial kill in the third period.

Head Coach Patrick Roy highlighted the impact of special teams:

“We’ve talked about how power plays can win games, and tonight was proof. Two crucial goals made all the difference.”

Notable Stats and Milestones

• Kyle Palmieri reached his 500th career NHL point with an assist on Lee’s goal. He also ended a six-game goal drought with his power-play tally in the third period.
• Anders Lee scored his 12th goal of the season, tying John Tavares for eighth place on the Islanders’ all-time scoring list (272 goals).
• Noah Dobson extended his point streak to four games (1G, 3A), matching the longest streak on the team this season.

Team Notes

• Pierre Engvall returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s game, replacing Hudson Fasching. Engvall logged 10:53 of ice time, recording an assist and a blocked shot.
• Ilya Sorokin has now played five consecutive games, making 57 saves on 62 shots over the back-to-back matchups.

The Islanders begin a two-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Kings at UBS Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30 PM.

Can the Islanders build on their winning momentum, or will the Kings bring their streak to a halt? Fans won’t want to miss this exciting matchup.