This was one of those games where the Isles needed two points, and this time they got them in classic boring Islanders fashion. Minus an early scare that led to a great Varlamov save and the Sabres’ dominant power play getting a goal, the Isles were in control against a depleted Buffalo team coming off a long COVID-mandated layoff.
The Isles have now turned their 0-3-2 stretch into a 4-0-3 stretch, and they’re now 3rd in the MassMutual East Division.
First Period
The moment that could have changed the game came early, when Jack Eichel got the puck to Victor Olofsson, who had a ton of time and space to put one past Semyon Varlamov.