Quick strikes help Isles sink Sabres
Anders Lee and Brock Nelson scored 62 seconds apart early in the second period and rookie Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves as the Islanders defeated the Sabres 5-2 on Sunday at Nassau Coliseum for their fifth straight win.
The victory was the Islanders’ sixth straight over the Sabres this season.
After a scoreless first period, Lee netted his teamleading 12th goal of the season at 5:13 just after an Islanders power play expired. Lee scored from in front of Sabres netminder Jonas Johansson with assists to Jordan Eberle and Noah Dobson. Lee has six goals in the six games against the Sabres this season and has eight goals in his past 12 games overall.
“We did a really good job of sticking with our plan and playing with a lead,’’ Lee said. ”We really wanted to limit their chances. Just a good team effort.”
Nelson quickly made it 2-0 at 6:15, rifling the puck past Johansson, who also lost 5-2 to the Islanders on Thursday. Oliver Wahlstrom and Nick Leddy assisted.
Casey Cizikas increased the lead to 3-0 at 16:56 with his fourth goal. Assists went to Jean-Gabriel Pageau (200th career point) and defenseman Adam Pelech.
“They were playing hard and we capitalized on our chances,’’ Cizikas said.
“We bent, but we didn’t break.”
Sorokin, the 25-year-old netminder, earned his fourth win of the season as the Islanders improved to 10-0-2 at Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders are the only team in the league without a regulation loss at home.
“We get each other going,’’ Cizikas added. “We want to make it hard and make other teams know they are in for a dogfight in our building.”
Jeff Skinner’s goal at 5:41 of the third period ruined Sorokin’s shutout bid.
It was Skinner’s first goal this season and first since last Feb. 29. Skinner, who scored 40 times for Buffalo two seasons ago, is in the second year of an eightyear, $72 million contract.
He was benched by Sabres coach Ralph Krueger for three games late last month.
Sabres defenseman Colin Miller narrowed the deficit to 3-2 at 9:35 of the third with assists to Sabres captain Jack Eichel and Taylor Hall before Cal Clutterbuck, who also scored in Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Sabres, added his third of the season at 12:57.
Nelson scored his second of the game and ninth of the season into an empty net at 17:48 to complete the scoring.
The Islanders (15-6-4) lead their division 25 games into the abbreviated 56-game season. They also improved to 21-2-3 in the second game of back-toback games under coach Barry Trotz.