Let it be said that the New York Islanders were more than ready for the start of tonight’s game, especially impressive since it started a half hour earlier than most home games.
The Islanders badly needed a regulation win and two points, and not to waste another brilliant Ilya Sorokin masterpiece. They controlled the run of play basically all night, aside from a couple of stretches early in the third period. They generated over three expected goals at five-on-five. They still scored only two goals and none after the first advertising break in the game. But they pulled out the win.