Wings edge Islanders, end three-game slide
The Detroit Red Wings’ defense tightened up behind a strong performance from their goaltender.
Alex Nedeljkovic made 33 saves and the Red Wings ended a three-game skid with a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
Detroit had given up an average of six goals during the losing streak.
“I thought we were much better defensively than we had been in the last few games, and we were making chances offensively,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “We could have easily been up more than we were after two periods.”
Nedeljkovic nearly earned his first shutout of the season but the Islanders scored with 2:33 remaining after pulling goalie Ilya Sorokin for an extra skater.
“They had a lot of shots, but our guys were keeping everything to the outside, so it wasn’t as hard as it looked,” Nedeljkovic said.
Dylan Larkin got his team-high 11th goal and Michael Rasmussen also scored for the Red Wings.
Anders Lee scored and Sorokin made 37 saves for the Islanders, who had won two of three following an 11game losing streak.
After a scoreless first period, Larkin broke the deadlock at 10:32 of the second.
He scored a power-play goal with a shot from the point that deflected off Sorokin’s right arm.
Larkin has scored two more goals than he had in 44 games last season.
“I think Larks had a disappointing year and he’s said that as well,” Blashill said. “I think the long break might have helped him get away from hockey for a while and he’s been great this season.”
Nedeljkovic made a diving stop against Brock Nelson on a 3-on-1 break for New York in the closing seconds of the period.
Rasmussen made it 2-0 on a 2-on-1 rush with 7:05 remaining when he whistled a shot past Sorokin for his third goal of the season.
Lee scored with 2:33 left by deflecting in Noah Dobson’s shot.
“Our third period was really good, other than we gave up that 2-on-1,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “We tried to force a play that really wasn’t there. It ended up a 2-on-1. And then we got one and tried to get it tied up and we almost did.”
The Red Wings defeated the Islanders 4-3 in overtime 10 nights earlier. Detroit’s skid began right after that victory.