Isles win 5th straight

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The New York Islanders are dominating opponents with smothering defense and timely scoring.

They executed that winning formula to perfection on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks.

Cal Clutterbuck scored twice in the first period and Robin Lehner made 19 saves for this third shutout this season as the Islanders downed the Ducks 3-0 on Sunday for their fifth straight win.

The victory was the 15th in 18 games for the Metropolitan Division-leading Islanders, who have surged past Washington and Columbus over the past month. The Islanders have one game remaining — Tuesday at Chicago — before the All-Star break.

“We came out with a lot of energy. We work hard and frustrate the other team,” said Lehner, who continued his sterling comeback season, improving to 15-7-2. “You have to set the tone and there’s no reason to deviate now. We are playing our game.”

Clutterbuck opened the scoring at 4:50 of the first with a power-play goal. The 31-year-old forward completed a slick passing sequence by whipping the puck from the slot past former Islanders goaltender Chad Johnson. It was the sixth straight game in which the Islanders scored first as they improved to 5-1-1 this season at their former fulltime home, Nassau Coliseum.

Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauviller assisted. Bailey moved past Bob Nystrom on the team’s all-time assist list with 279 and into a tie with Pat LaFontaine for 12th place. Bailey, who is tied with captain Anders Lee for the team lead in points with 37, has three goals and three assists in last seven games.

Clutterbuck scored again from a nearly identical spot midway through the first for his sixth goal of the season.

“There’s a lot of confidence in the way we are playing and it’s nice to get a couple,” Clutterbuck said. “It’s an affirmation that the style we have and the work we’ve been putting in is a winning structure.”

Clutterbuck, in his sixth season with the Islanders, also scored in Friday’s 2-0 win at Washington, which moved the Islanders past the Capitals into the division lead. The Islanders are also 25-2-1 when scoring three or more goals this season.

“It’s fun right now,” Clutterbuck said, “but there’s still a long way to go.”

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images The Islanders’ Cal Clutterbuck slips the puck under the pad of Ducks goalie Chad Johnson for a power-play goal at 4:50 of the first priod during New York’s 3-0 victory on Sunday in Uniondale, N.Y.