In Detroit on Saturday afternoon, Jonathan Bernier made 41 saves to help the Red Wings defeat the visiting New York Islanders, 2-1.
Bernier had been 1-8-4.
Andreas Athanasiou scored his 25th/26th goals of the season – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Anders Lee scored the Isles’ lone goal.
“It was great to finally get a win – I really wanted that,” he said. “I felt really good right off the bat and the guys did a great job in front of me.”
Andreas Athanasiou struck for both Detroit goals.
“That’s the type of game we need Andreas to have if he’s going to be a full-time center in this league,” Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill said. “He was very good on both ends of the ice, unlike our last game against Tampa Bay. I didn’t like his defense against them, and I showed him some video clips and he went out and did a very nice job.”
The Isles dropped to 41-23-7 and failed to climb into a fist place tie with the Washington Capitals in the Metro Division.
“We played a really good game, but we couldn’t find a way to put the puck in the net,” the Islanders’ Mathew Barzal said. “I liked the way we played, and I thought we created plenty of chances, but Bernier was great. On a night where the breaks were going our way, we might have scored four or five times in the third period and seven or eight times in the game.”
Detroit improved to 25-37-10.
Athanasiou has 26 goals on the season and is within striking distance of being the first 30-goal scorer in Detroit in 10 years.
“Thirty goals would be a great milestone,” Athanasiou said. “That’s a lot of goals, for sure, and if I can get there, I’d obviously feel good. It helps that I’m getting more and more comfortable (at center) with every game, every shift and every faceoff. I definitely think I’m maturing into the position.” — Red Wings center Andreas Athanasiou
[WATCH: All Islanders vs. Red Wings highlights]
Thomas Greiss made 20 saves in the loss.
“I don’t see this as a setback. We played a really good game, and if we keep playing that way, we are going to win a lot more games than we lose,” Thomas Hickey said after the game. “We just happened to run into a hot goalie and didn’t get some bounces. I’d be happy if we play the same way tomorrow.”
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