Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Game Recap (Game 7): NYI @ WPG

October 18, 2019, 5:28 PM ET [36 Comments]
Ben Shelley
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The New York Islanders won their third straight game last night, beating the Winnipeg Jets 3-1. Here’s the game recap.

Varlamov made a couple good saves within the first two minutes, stopping Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor (I think) and later in the period he made a good save on a Mathieu Perreault chance. Nikolaj Ehlers would give the Jets the opening goal on the power play though, when he got the puck from Neal Pionk and beat Varlamov glove side on an excellent shot. Varlamov was likely screened here but even if not, that’s a great shot from Ehlers. Winnipeg outshot the Islanders 16-5 in the first period but because of Varlamov, the deficit was just one goal.

New York didn’t really wake up until about halfway through the second period when they got a powerplay opportunity and Josh Bailey fed an excellent pass to Mathew Barzal, who ripped a one-timer right by Connor Hellebuyck who didn’t really have a chance on this one.



Just after the goal, Bailey tipped a pass from Barzal right to Oliver Wahlstrom, who Hellebuyck robbed with a glove save in close. This is my point about the Bailey/Kuhnhackl words I wrote in the pre-game report. Bailey has a knack making plays when he chooses to use it and on those two plays, he certainly did.

A little bit later, Anders Lee found himself all alone against Hellebuyck but was shut down point-blank with another glove save. Mathew Barzal then gave Adam Lowry a chance the other way with a bad turnover but Varlamov made a good save.

With only about 15 seconds to go in the second period, Josh Morrissey’s dump-in attempt was picked off and Barzal went the other way on a 2-on-1 and froze Hellebuyck with another great shot to the blocker side, giving the Islanders the lead heading into the third period.



Winnipeg pressed in the third period but Varlamov was great and Josh Bailey put the game out of reach with an empty net goal in the final minute.

Varlamov was a difference-maker, stopping 32 of 33 shots. This is what I was saying about Varlamov before the season: you don’t know if he’s going to show up but when he does, he’s pretty darn good.

Oliver Wahlstrom is looking great. There was one play specifically in the second period where he knocked Patrik Laine off the puck in a battle, then used his body to keep control, stuck to the outside, went around Carl Dahlstrom and got right in on Hellebuyck, before narrowly missing the top corner of the net on his shot. I had said (or at least thought to myself- I don’t know if it was written anywhere) that Wahlstrom should get a full year with Bridgeport before being called up. I’d be willing to retract that.

Devon Toews may be contributing more offensively but boy, did he ever have a bad turnover in the second period, feeding the puck right to Jack Roslovic in the slot but getting bailed out by Varlamov. As for Barzal, the slow start of the first few games is now long behind him and he’s driving more offense than ever.

New York's next game comes tomorrow when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets.


For more, follow @BenShelley_20 on Twitter.


OTHER ISLANDERS ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER

Game Recap (Game 6): NYI vs STL

Game Recap (Game 5): NYI vs FLA

Game Recap (Game 4): NYI @ CAR

Game Recap (Game 3): NYI vs EDM

Game Recap (Game 2): NYI vs WPG

Game Recap (Game 1): NYI vs WSH

Josh Ho-Sang has requested a trade

Fritz, Hickey and Ho-Sang clear waivers
Join the Discussion: » 36 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Ben Shelley
» Islanders’ playoff hopes continue to fade after splitting back-to-back set
» Islanders fall to Red Wings for sixth straight loss
» Islanders’ playoff chances take another hit with 4-1 loss to Hurricanes
» Islanders drop both games of weekend back-to-back, now on four-game skid
» Isles fail to pull ahead in playoff race with mixed results on road trip