Detroit Red Wings Beat New York Islanders 3-2
Detroit is about as good as the Islanders, but the Islanders won both of the previous two games this season, 5-1 and 7-2. The Islanders match up well with Detroit. However, they lost this game against Detroit, 3-2. Despite all of their injuries, the Islanders come into this game with Detroit on a three-game winning streak.
The Islanders entered this game coming off a 3-2 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. That win extended their home winning streak to five games. The Islanders have won six of their last seven games, including five against current division leaders. Detroit is currently tied for first place. What do you think explains the Islanders’ success?
Scoring Summary Of Detroit-Islanders
Detroit won its last game 4-0. A shutout victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane led the Red Wings in scoring, but Kane missed this game against the Islanders. John Gibson saved all 26 shots he faced. Here is a scoring summary of the game.
In the first period, Emil Heineman scored for the Islanders to give them a 1-0 lead. That is how the first period ended. The Islanders made that goal stand up, the mark of a good team.
In the second period, there were no goals scored. That was good for the Islanders as they had the balance of play and protected their narrow lead.
In the third period, Axel Sandin-Pellikka scored to tie the game at 1. 1:52 later DeBrincat scored his 19th goal of the season. It was 2-1 Detroit. Then, Scott Mayfield scored for the Islanders to tie the game at two. It was Mayfield’s first goal of the season. But then DeBrincat scored again. It was 3-2 Detroit with 2:15 left.
Bo Horvat Update
Bo Horvat leads the Islanders in scoring, but missed this game against Detroit. Officially, he is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He did not dress for the Islanders’ most recent game against the Lightning.
Horvat suffered a lower-body injury in the second period and didn’t return in the 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on December 11. Horvat has 31 points this season. He has 19 goals and 12 assists. His 19 goals are tied with Chicago’s Connor Bedard and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby for the fourth-most in the NHL this season.
The Unbelievable Matthew Schaffer
Matthew Schaefer opened the scoring in the last game against the Lightning with a four-on-three, power play goal. The rookie is up to 9 goals and tied for the third-most goals by a defenseman this season. He leads all rookie defensemen in both goals (9) and assists (14).
Schaefer is also tied for the third-most goals in a single season by a defenseman at 18 years old or younger in National Hockey League history. Only Bobby Orr (13) and Phil Housley (17) are in front of him on the list.
White Hot Ilya Sorokin
Ilya Sorokin is a perfect 5-0-0 in December. He owns a league-best .942 save percentage since the start of the month. He has allowed just 10 goals on 172 shots. The Islanders’ goaltender stopped all 29 shots to shut out Detroit in their last meeting. Sorokin has been strong against Atlantic Division opponents this season, posting a 5-2-1 record with a 2.11 GAA, .923 save percentage, and two shutouts.
News and Notes
- The Islanders are 2-0-0 against the Red Wings this season, posting a 7-2 win on October 23 and a 5-0 victory on November 20.
- The Islanders are looking to sweep the season series over the Red Wings in this game.
- Detroit Goaltender John Gibson has won five straight games and has recorded two shutouts over that span. Gibson is 5-0-0 in December with a 2.00 GAA, a .940 save percentage, and two shutouts. Gibson was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week for the week ending December 14.
- DeBrincat has 11 points in the last seven games, including three points in two of the last three games. The ninth-year forward leads Detroit with 37 points, which ranks 16th in the National Hockey League. His 18 goals tie Florida’s Brad Marchand and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid for fifth-most in the league.
Conclusion
The Islanders came into this game with Detroit with the 24th-ranked power play in the National Hockey League. In their last nine games, they are 8-of-29, which is 29.7%. That is seventh in the league. In their last five games, they are 5-of-14, which is 35.7% and second in the league. That is much better than the one that was next to last in the league. The Islanders host Vancouver on Friday.
