Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) makes a save as Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (8) helps out and Arizona Coyotes left wing Johan Larsson (22) looks for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. Credit: AP/Ross D. Franklin
GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Islanders prefer not to get caught in wide-open games. If that style isn’t necessarily the most exciting, so be it. Simple and methodical with good goaltending has worked for Barry Trotz’s team through back-to-back runs to the NHL semifinals.
In that sense, Saturday night’s 3-0 victory over the winless Coyotes at Gila River Arena, five games into a 13-game road trip, was the first time the Islanders have played pretty much the way they want.