Recap: Islanders 5, Sabres 1

The New York Islanders wrapped up their pre-Christmas schedule with a 5-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
Five different Islanders - Anthony Beauvillier, Ryan Strome, John Tavares, Andrew Ladd and Calvin de Haan - scored on Friday, as the Islanders won their second straight game heading into the holidays. Thomas Greiss' 28-save performance was simply the bow on a gift-wrapped win.

GAME SUMMARY - EVENT SUMMARY - PHOTO GALLERY
"It was a good win," Strome said. "It was nice to get contributions from a bunch of different guys in the lineup. I think every line was involved in a goal. I don't think it's a secret what we have to do to win, just play fast, use our speed and it's good to get two in a row before the break."

The Islanders spread out the offense on Friday night, as 12 different players got on the scoresheet. Beauvillier got things started for the Islanders, his redirection from the slot just getting through 6'6 Sabres goalie - and former Islander - Anders Nilsson. The Islanders took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission in what would wind up being the closest period of the game.
The Islanders killed off a pair of penalties to start the second period, before the offense went back to work. Strome and Tavares scored a pair of goals in the final 5:24 of the middle frame, pulling away from the Sabres, who had managed to hang around for the first 35 minutes.

Strome, who was buzzing throughout the second period, potted his own rebound past Nilsson at 14:36 and assisting on John Tavares' power-play goal with 39 seconds to play in the period. The goal was Strome's third in his last five games and the 23-year-old nearly had another, ringing a Beauvillier feed off the post. Strome picked up an assist on Tavares's power-play goal to end the second, as the captain's chip shot caromed off a Sabres player and in.

"It was one of the more complete games that we played," head coach Jack Capuano said. "Special teams early on, our penalty kill was really good and our power play got us a big goal when we needed it too. I thought five-on-five the structure of our game was executed and the work ethic was there."
The Islanders kept pouring it on the tired Sabres - who played the night before - as Ladd sniped a laser over Nilsson's left shoulder at 5:35 and Calvin de Haan tapped in a backdoor feed from Alan Quine at 12:34.

Zemgus Girgensons busted Greiss' shutout bid with 1:03 to play, but the German goalie credited his defense for giving him an easy night, limiting second-and-third opportunities.
"We played a great game as a team," Greiss said. "They didn't have much. A lot of shots were from the outside. We kept them away from scoring areas."

The Islanders get three days off for the holidays and return to action on Tuesday night when they host the Washington Capitals.

Ralph Macchio Bobblehead Night:

Ralph Macchio was celebrated with his own bobblehead on Friday night. The Karate Kid star and lifelong Islanders fan was immortalized in his famous crane kick pose.