After a weak showing the night before against the Los Angeles Kings, the New York Islanders faced the Anaheim Ducks looking to get back on track. They had to do it without their star player, but they received a lot of help from some of the seemingly unlikeliest candidates, making their case to stay in the lineup: The internal competition is working.
Ross Johnston had two primary assists, each one a beautiful look, and Casey Cizikas celebrated his birthday by converting Johnston’s first assist and setting up his second. To top it off, Ilya Sorokin earned a shutout in what looked to be a return to form.