FIRE & ICE
Isles’ offense heats up, surface issue continues in victory
John Tavares’ slow start to the season was indicative of an entire Islanders offense that hadn’t been able to find its way for much of the season’s first five games.
Then on Sunday against Minnesota, despite not scoring again in the first period, the Isles broke through for three goals in both the second and third periods in a 6-3 win at Barclays Center.
“We had a lot of chances the last few games,” said Tavares, who scored the Isles’ first goal that tied the score and then an emptynetter to put the game away in the third. “It was good to see a few go in.”
The outburst gave the Islanders their first consecutive wins of the season, as they improved to 3-3, while the Wild fell to 3-2-1.
Despite finally scoring more than three goals in a game, all is not well in Brooklyn.
Sunday was the team’s first game at their home rink since Friday’s victory over Arizona, a win that was marred by terrible ice conditions that veteran Cal Clutterbuck called the worst he had seen in his nine-year career.
The bad ice was chalked up in part to the unseasonably warm and humid temperatures last week.
On Sunday, Mother Nature cooperated with cooler weather, but the ice was still far from perfect.
“It was a little better today, but honestly, I just want to focus on playing,” Tavares, the captain, said. “I think as players, it wears us out more talking about it than playing on it.”
Johnny Boychuk also declined to discuss the issue in depth and Tavares tried his best to be diplomatic.
“I know it’s a hot topic,” Tavares said. “It is what it is. Both teams are playing on the same sheet.”
Prior to the game, Jack Capuano said he didn’t address the issue with his team.
“We don’t want any excuses,” the coach said. “I don’t want to even bring things up that we have no control of. Whether the ice is good or bad, both teams have to play on it. I’m sure they’re trying the best they can here.”
But Capuano admitted it’s a concern.
“We want what’s best for the players to execute,” Capuano said. “I understand where the players are coming from. We’ve got to battle through the conditions … and hopefully it can get better.”
The Islanders performed just fine Sunday, especially after former Devil Zach Parise scored the 300th goal of his career to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead at 1:15 of the second period.
Tavares evened the score at 4:23 off a feed from Josh Bailey and then Calvin de Haan gave the Isles the lead just 34 seconds later with the first of three goals from Isles defensemen.
Boychuk followed with his second goal in as many games and after a misplay by goaltender Thomas Greiss in an otherwise strong game gave Parise his second tally, Alan Quine and Thomas Hickey helped put the game away with goals in the third.
The Isles top defensive pair, Travis Hamonic and Nick Leddy, was back together after Leddy missed Friday’s game with an upper-body injury.
Leddy returned Sunday after his replacement, Ryan Pulock, went down after blocking a shot on Friday. He’s going to be out at least a month.