On Long Island, Anders Lee scored twice and added an assist to help the Islanders defeat the San Jose Sharks, 4-1, on Sunday night.
The Sharks were coming off a loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
Anders Lee had two goals and three points for the Islanders – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
The Islanders are in a log jam tie for the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference and one point back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the third spot in the Metropolitan Division.
“Momentum is a day-to-day, minute-to-minute thing in this League,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “When you think you’ve got everything figured out, it absolutely humbles you and embarrasses you, all those things. We’ve got to keep climbing, just keep climbing.”
Semyon Varlamov made 29 saves to get the win.
Dylan Gambrell scored the lone goal for San Jose.
“We had some good looks, some good deflections and tips in front of [Varlamov], and he made some saves,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. “The Islanders are pretty tight, they don’t give you a lot, but we just couldn’t seem to generate any second and third chances around the net.”
Devon Toews also scored for the Islanders.
“I think they feel freer now,” Trotz said. “Just like anything, when it’s not going in for you and you’re working hard and you get the puck, you just hesitate for that second and look, is there another play? By that time the goalie moves or a player makes a play on you. When you’re a little more freer and not squeezing your stick, you get the puck and you don’t just throw it, you shoot it and you know where it’s going. You make that decision before you get the puck.”
Josh Bailey sealed the game for the Isles with an empty net goal.
[WATCH: All Sharks vs. Islanders highlights]
Martin Jones made 22 saves in the loss.
“There’s always a lot of unknown at this time of the year. It’ll be good to get [the trade deadline] over with,”the Sharks’ Barclay Goodrow said after the game.
You must be logged in to post a comment.