Detroit Red Wings Lose To New York Islanders 5-0
The Detroit Red Wings are in first place in the topsy-turvy National Hockey League. The Islanders wrapped up a very successful road trip that just ended in Detroit. We can confidently say that Matthew Schaefer has energized the Islanders, who are now fun to watch.
The Islanders faced a challenge in Detroit, but prevailed 5-0. The Islanders were fired up because their teammate, Alexander Romanov, was injured in the final minute against the Dallas Stars, so he missed the game in Detroit.
Detroit Falls to Islanders 5-0
The Red Wings fell to the Islanders tonight. The game was the end of a seven-game road trip for the Islanders. The road trip has been successful for the Islanders, who are 5-1 while away from UBS Arena. Detroit is in first place in the Atlantic Division, so this was another difficult road game for the Islanders. Here is a scoring summary of the game.
In the first period, in the first period Calum Ritchie scored for the Islanders. That gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead. Then, Maxim Shabonov scored for the Islanders. They led 2-0. Significantly, Ritchie got an assist on that goal. That gave him two points in the first period and three, now, in his last two games.
In the second period, both Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal scored. The period ended with the Islanders leading 4-0 and on the power play. In the third period, Shabanov scored again. Casey Cizikas got his third assist of the game. That goal made it 5-0 Islanders.
News and Notes
- Head Coach Patrick Roy said that Ilya Sorokin would start for the Islanders in this game. Sorokin is 4-1-1 in his last six games, with a .931 save percentage and a 2.00 Goals Against Average. He has been somewhat hot, and this is very important. Backup Goaltender David Rittich played well in the last game against the Dallas Stars.
- Horvat scored his team-leading 13th goal and 24th point of the season on Tuesday. According to the National Hockey League Public Relations, Horvat became the third Islanders skater in the past 30 years with 24 or more points through their first 20 games of the season. John Tavares and Alexei Yashin are the others to accomplish that.
- The Islanders play in Detroit as road warriors. The Islanders are 5-1-0 on the road trip and improved to 7-4-1 on the road overall this season. Only the Rangers (9-2-1) and Kings (9-2-2) have more road wins this season. “It’s tough to come on this road swing and collect that many wins,” Ryan Pulock said. “We got one more before we’re going home, so we’ll get our rest and be ready for Detroit. I feel like the team has done really well playing on the road and keeping it simple, grinding out these wins.”
- Detroit beat the Seattle Kraken 4-2 on Tuesday night and had scored points in four of their last five games.
- It was Hockey Fights Cancer night in Detroit.
- Simon Holmstrom returned to the lineup for the Islanders tonight after missing the last game with an illness. It was good that his illness was brief. He has become an important player for the Islanders.
Romanov Update
The Islanders placed Defenseman Alexander Romanov on injured reserve on Wednesday afternoon. So, he will be missing the game in Detroit. Romanov suffered his injury in the final minute of Tuesday’s win in Dallas after he was hit from behind by Mikko Rantanen and slammed into the boards.
Romanov has just one assist, but 31 hits and 31 blocks through 15 games this season, averaging 19:27 time on ice per game. The Islanders will miss his physical presence.
Conclusion
The Islanders come home, finally, to take on the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. It will be the first home game for the Islanders following a seven-game road trip. The road trip was a very successful 6-1. The game Saturday will serve as Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Long Island. The game is sure to be emotional, as Islanders wonderkid Matthew Schaefer had his mother die from breast cancer. There is no doubt that the Islanders had a good road trip..
