The Islanders got back to hockey on Thursday night. And winning.
They beat the Devils, 3-2, at UBS Arena in their first game since a 3-2 overtime win over the visiting Oilers on New Year’s Day. It was just the Islanders’ fourth game in 26 days, but it was their third straight win and they are now 6-2-4 since Dec. 7.
Mathew Barzal’s one-timer to the upper right corner off Josh Bailey’s feed was the winner at 15:07 of the third period. Ilya Sorokin stopped 30 shots.
Coach Barry Trotz missed his second straight game, this time as he remains in COVID-19 protocol. Associate coach Lane Lambert also ran the bench against the Oilers as Trotz mourned the passing of his mother.
The Devils tied it at 2 at 10:25 of the third period on Nathan Bastian’s power-play deflection of defenseman Ty Smith’s shot. It was the Devils’ second straight man advantage, with defenseman Adam Pelech tripping Bastian at 7:47 of the third period and then Brock Nelson, back in the lineup after missing the last two games while in COVID-19 protocol, cross-checking Michael McLeod at 10:08.
While the Islanders were playing their first game in 12 days after a trip to Seattle, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary was postponed, the Devils played for the first time in 10 days. Their home game on Monday against the Lightning was postponed as they had nine players in COVID-19 protocol.
And while Yegor Sharangovich, Pavel Zacha and Andreas Johnsson were able to return, the Devils had to place both No. 1 goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and backup Akira Schmid in COVID-19 protocol the past two days.
So, 27-year-old journeyman Jon Gillies (22 saves) made his second appearance this season for the Devils and 15th overall in the NHL, including stops with the Flames and the Blues. Gillies participated in the Islanders’ training camp in September on a professional tryout offer.
Thursday marked the start of 11 games in 20 days for the Islanders leading into the NHL’s All-Star break. The stretch includes three back-to-back sets but all the games are at UBS Arena save for Tuesday at Philadelphia.
Thursday also marked the first of four straight games against Metropolitan Division opponents, crucial points as the last-place Islanders try to fight back into playoff contention.
"There are teams in the standings we’ve got to jump ahead and the best way to do that is by playing them and beating them," defenseman Scott Mayfield said. "We know what’s in front of us. We’re just excited to play and get out there."
Both teams showed the expected rust through a loose first period, which featured numerous rushes either way and 14 shots for each.
Bailey, with his first goal in 18 games and just his second of the season, tied it on the power play at 18:59 of the first period as he got to the crease and knocked in the rebound of Anthony Beauvillier’s initial shot.
Sharangovich opened the scoring at 9:43 on a harmless wrist shot from the left that snuck past Sorokin’s short side for a soft goal. Sorokin had been sharp earlier on the Devils’ first power play, twice denying Tomas Tatar from in tight.
But the defensive play tightened as the game progressed, which was also to be expected.
The teams combined for 11 shots in the second period, with Pelech, named an All-Star for the first time in his career earlier in the day, giving the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 9:22 on a shot from the slot that deflected off Devils defenseman Ryan Graves and through Zach Parise’s screen at the net. Parise had two primary assists.
