Islanders clip Buffalo, 3-2, on late goal Cizikas scores winner in third for Isles

Posted on by

In Elmont, Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves  in the New York Islanders’ 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

It was the season opener for the Isles.

“Solid as always. [Sorokin] was great.” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “He was sprawling around making saves. We got some fortunate bounces, too, but it’s part of the game. When we needed him, he was there.”

Brock Nelson  staked the Isles to a 1-0 lead at 5:57 of the first period.

“It’s always nice to start off on the right foot,” Nelson said. “It’s been a long week for us. I think everyone was excited to get out here, get the opener, and get back into real action.”

Kyle Palmieri  scored at 18:18 of the frame to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead.

Buffalo replied with a goal in the middle frame from Jordan Greenway to cut the deficit to 2-1.

“(Zach) Benson (two assists) was good. (Jordan) Greenway and (Casey) Mittlestadt, those three were good,” Buffalo coach Don Granato said. “They had some chances … backdoor type stuff that one little inch or two would have been in. I thought the three of them were together, developing chemistry.”

Mittelstadt evened the game, 2-2, at 2:34 of the third.

“I thought the second was kind of where we started to get going,” Mittelstadt said. “Making plays and playing fast, I thought we looked like ourselves from there on in. … Obviously it was a tough ending, but we know it’s early and there’s definitely some positive things we can take away from it.”

Casey Cizikas scored for the Isles at 13:40 of the third to push the Islanders back in front, 3-2.

“Pelech did a great job walking the line and getting that puck through,” Cizikas said. “That’s the main thing. It’s not easy. Guys are in front of pucks, guys are committed to blocking them. To get that puck through the bodies, it was definitely a great play by him.”

Devon Levi made 26 saves in the loss.