|
 Right winger Kyle Okposo scored a hat trick Sunday afternoon as the
Islanders snapped out of a slump and moved back into playoff
position in the Eastern Conference with an 8-1 rout of the Edmonton
Oilers at Barclays Center.
Five other players -- defenseman Johnny Boychuk, center John
Tavares, left winger Nikolay Kulemin, center Josh Bailey and right
winger Cal Clutterbuck -- all scored a goal apiece for the
Islanders, who scored their most goals since a 9-3 win over the
Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 11, 2011.
In addition, the win was the most lopsided for the Islanders since a
9-2 decision over the Chicago Blackhawks on March 25, 2003.
But the Islanders were less concerned with the historical measures
of a Super Bowl-esque trouncing than with the immediate gains it
produced in the standings. New York (27-18-6) snapped a 1-3-0 skid
and moved from fifth place in the Metropolitan Division to third
place and from ninth in the Eastern Conference into a tie for sixth.
"To me, 8-1, 8-7 or 2-1, we just needed points," Islanders coach
Jack Capuano said. "Hard work pays off. I think our guys haven't
gotten the results they've deserved to the last couple of weeks."
The Islanders outshot their opponents in each of their last four
defeats, including a 5-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday
in which New York had a 29-20 shots advantage.
"Even the games we haven't gotten results, we know we've played
pretty good hockey," Tavares said. "But this time of year, you need
to get win, get points."
The second- through sixth-place teams in the Metropolitan Division
are separated by just six points. The Islanders (11 points) are the
only team in that pack with fewer than 12 points in its last 10
games.
"Fortunately we came out of here with two points," Capuano said.
"It's big, two points. It's a tough division. Every night, everybody
seems to win."
There was never any doubt the Islanders would win Sunday. Boychuk,
Tavares and Kulemin scored within a span of 8:27 in the first to
chase Oilers goalie Anders Nilsson, who departed after Kulemin's
goal at the 11:24 mark.
"I don't think we were prepared to play for those first few goals
against," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "Really disappointed with
the preparation, the approach to the game."
Okposo scored the first two goals in the Islanders' four-goal second
to extend the lead to 5-0. After that, the only objective left for
New York was to get out of the game unscathed on the injury front.
[to top of second column] |
A pushing-and-shoving match between Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss
(30 saves) and Oilers right winger Zack Kassian following a save by
Greiss midway through the second escalated into a pair of fights
that yielded 34 penalty minutes and led the ejection of Kassian.
Bailey and Clutterbuck each scored in the second half of the second
period and Okposo finished off his second career hat trick 7:27 into
the 3rd.
"It's good for the confidence to win like that," Okposo said. "It
was good for our team. I thought we did a good job. Played the right
way despite the score after two period. I thought we did a good job
of just managing the game. We didn't take any short cuts."
Rookie center Connor McDavid scored for the Oilers (21-28-5), who
were outscored 13-2 in losing to the Islanders and Montreal
Canadiens on back-to-back days.
"(The Islanders) got drilled in Detroit last night," McLellan said.
"We both lost 5-1. Shows where one team is and how far one team has
to go."
Nilsson had seven saves while Cam Talbot finished up with 16 saves
in relief for Edmonton, which has lost five of seven and nine of 13.
Starting goalie Anders Nilsson was chased after allowing three goals
on 10 first period shots. Goalie Cam Talbot finished up with 16
saves.
NOTES: The Islanders improved to 2-3-3 (wins-losses-ties) on Super
Bowl Sunday. The Oilers fell to 4-3-1 (wins-losses-ties) on Super
Bowl Sunday since the World Hockey Association merged with the NHL
prior to the 1979-80 season. ... The Islanders have won nine
straight home games against the Oilers dating back to the 2001-02
season. ... The Islanders scratched RW Steve Bernier, G
Jean-Francois Berube and D Marek Zidlicky. ... Islanders G Thomas
Greiss made his first start since Jan. 12, a span of seven games.
... The Oilers scratched D Adam Clendening, C Anton Lender and D
Darnell Nurse. ... Oilers G Anders Nilsson was pulled for the third
time this season. His replacement, Cam Talbot, has also been pulled
from a game three times.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
