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 A banged-up Clutterbuck scored two goals Sunday night, including
what proved to be the game-winner midway through the third period,
as the Islanders held off the league-leading Dallas Stars, 6-5, at
Barclays Center.
Right winger Kyle Okposo scored twice while center Anders Lee and
center Mikhail Grabovski scored once apiece for the Islanders
(22-13-5), who moved three points ahead of the New York Rangers in
the race for second place in the Metropolitan Division while also
improving to 5-2-1 in the second game of back-to-backs.
The Islanders are just 1-2-0 when playing on at least three days'
rest, which is what New York will do when it hosts the Eastern
Conference-leading Washington Capitals on Thursday.
"I don't like this team when we have long layoffs," Capuano said. "I
like when we continue to play. Since I've been here, it's the one
area of the game we've done really well at - the back-to-backs or
just playing a lot of hockey."
The Islanders have certainly played a lot of hockey since the
holiday break ended Dec. 27. New York is 3-2-0 in the last eight
days and went 2-1-0 on a road trip that spanned New Year's Day and
ended with a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.
"It's always tough to get in late and come back and play that first
home game," Capuano said.
Clutterbuck had the toughest task Sunday. He was listed as a
game-time decision after exiting Saturday's game due to an
upper-body injury before taking his usual spot along the Islanders'
fourth line.
It appeared as if Clutterbuck's night might be over 5:07 into the
second. Clutterbuck had his knees bent as he battled for the puck
along the boards when Stars defenseman Jason Demers was whistled for
elbowing him in the head.
Clutterbuck remained on all fours for a couple minutes before
getting up and slowly skating off the ice. Demers received a
five-minute boarding penalty as well as a 10-minute game misconduct.
"I didn't think he did anything, really," Stars coach Lindy Ruff
said of the Demers hit. "(Clutterbuck) didn't look hurt, but he sold
it pretty good."
After a locker room checkup, Clutterbuck returned and capped the
Islanders' three-goal second by scoring with 2:17 remaining to
extend New York's lead to 5-2.
"He just knows how to play one way," Capuano said of Clutterbuck.
"He's a physical presence."
His second goal - a short-handed score 9:53 into the third -
sandwiched goals by Stars right winger right winger Valeri
Nichushkin and allowed the Islanders to maintain a multi-goal lead
until Dallas center Jason Spezza scored with 1:42 left.
The two-goal game was the third of Clutterbuck's career and his
first since Feb. 11, 2011, when he achieved the feat for the
Minnesota Wild against the St. Louis Blues. But on Sunday, he was
more interested in enjoying some time off than marveling at a rare
offensive outburst.
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"I feel like everybody else down in here," Clutterbuck said. "I just
kind of want to go home, put my feet up and watch a TV show or
something."
Especially since Clutterbuck knows what awaits the Islanders when
the Capitals - who lead the Eastern Conference with 59 points -
arrive Thursday for the first game between the longtime rivals since
Washington's bitter seven-game victory in the conference
quarterfinals last April.
Five of the games were decided by two goals or fewer, including the
Capitals' 2-1 Game 4 win in which right winger Tom Wilson knocked
concussion-prone Islanders defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky out for the
playoffs with a hard check along the boards.
"That one's even amped up a little bit more, I think, given the
history," Clutterbuck said. "We need two points regardless of the
opposition. But there are definitely games that have a bigger
feeling to them."
Left wingers Vernon Fiddler and Patrick Sharp scored in the first
period for the Stars (28-9-4), who took leads of 1-0 and 2-1 before
suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season. Dallas
lost to the New Jersey Devils 3-2 in overtime on Saturday.
"We don't want to make this a trend, obviously," Stars left winger
Jamie Benn said.
Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss made 36 saves while Stars goalie Kari
Lehtonen recorded 38 saves.
NOTES: The Islanders scratched RW Steve Bernier, LW Eric Boulton and
D Brian Strait. ... Islanders G Jaroslav Halak (upper body) remained
on injured reserve but skated Sunday morning. Head coach Jack
Capuano said the team will know more Tuesday regarding a timetable
for D Johnny Boychuk, who suffered a shoulder injury Thursday. ...
The Stars scratched RW Patrick Eaves, D Patrik Nemeth and D Jamie
Oleksiak. RW Valeri Nichushkin returned to the lineup after missing
Saturday's game with an upper-body injury. ... Every other NHL team
has at least two losing streaks of at least two games except the
Washington Capitals, who have lost their last two games.
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