3 Takeaways: A Grand Night for Bailey and Isles in 6-2 Win Over Canes

It was storybook stuff.
Josh Bailey, playing in his 1,000th game, scored the game-winning goal for the New York Islanders in a 6-2 romp over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night at PNC Arena.
It was a heartwarming end to an emotional day, one that started with Bailey getting bombarded with text messages, tributes and notes of congratulations from around the hockey world, and ended with getting plenty of hugs from his teammates and the game puck from Matt Martin.

"Just overwhelming with the support and all the kind words," Bailey said postgame. "Some teary-eyed moments this afternoon reading some of those texts, you know, reminiscing about from the time you were a kid till now."
Just playing 1,000 would have been special enough, with his parents in the crowd and the Hurricanes congratulating him during a play stoppage in the first period. A win, even better. Being the guy who helped deliver it with a slick backhander at 16:26 of the second period, priceless.
"It's a special one," Bailey said. "It will be close to my heart for a long time."

ISLANDERS LINE COMBOS CLICKING:

Less than a week ago, Head Coach Lane Lambert said he was still looking for the right line combinations for the New York Islanders.
After eight goals in two wins, including Friday's 6-2 victory over the usually-stingy Hurricanes on Friday, the Isles bench boss may have found it.
"Right now I do," Lambert said postgame. "They're starting to build some chemistry and so it's important."
The chemistry looked good on the new-look line of Bailey, Mathew Barzal and Oliver Wahlstrom, who combined for the first and third Islanders goals.
Wahlstrom opened the scoring on Friday night, burying a feed from Barzal on a two-on-one rush and Barzal capitalized on a Brent Burns miscue at the Islanders blue line to make it 1-0.
Wahlstrom's goal was his fourth of the season and capped an active period for the 22-year-old forward, who had five shot attempts in the opening 20 minutes. Wahlstrom's tally also came against some quality competition, with Carolina's top line of Sebastian Aho, Tuevo Teravainen and Seth Jarvis on the ice. Prior to Friday's tilt, the Hurricanes top-six forwards had not allowed a goal at five-on-five.

The line wasn't done, with Barzal dishing to Bailey for the eventual winner. Barzal put the brakes on deep in the Hurricanes' zone and fed a trailing Bailey, who pulled the puck around Brady Skjei and a swimming Frederik Andersen before backhanding a puck home to make it 3-2.
"The three of us thus far, it's been good," Bailey said. "The more familiarity the easier it's going to get. I've played with Barzal quite a bit in the past. [Wahlstrom] and I think we're still figuring each other out, but it's coming together nicely and hopefully, we can just keep on rolling."
The Islanders got even strength goals from three of their four lines, including an effort goal from the Identity Line to put the Islanders ahead 2-1 in the second period. Casey Cizikas pressured Jalen Chatfield into giving up the puck in front of the net before feeding Matt Martin in the slot at 14:29. Brock Nelson scored a pair of third period goals to ice the game, while Zach Parise's shorthanded empty-netter rounded out the scoring.

BROCK BREAKS OUT:

Nelson scored his first two goals of the season, netting a pair of goals in the third period to extend the Islanders' lead from 3-2 to 5-2, effectively putting the game out of reach.
They were important goals for Nelson personally, who was looking for his first tally after scoring a career-high 37 goals last season. For the team, they came at an opportune time.
"He did it at a key moment in the game," Lambert said. "Not only did he break out of it, but you know he deserves full credit for doing that and making a difference in that game."
Both of Nelson's goals were set up by Anthony Beauvillier, who earned marks from Lambert for his response to being scratched on Sunday vs the Florida Panthers. Beauvillier's cross-ice pass was knocked down by Skjei on Nelson's first goal, landing right on his stick before the Islanders sniper potted it at 3:59. Beauvillier had a cleaner pass to Nelson on his second goal, effectively icing the game at 11:06. Nelson is now up to eight points (2G, 6A) in eight games this year.
ISLANDERS 6, HURRICANES 2
ISLANDERS ARTICLES
Gamecenter
Women in Hockey: Joanne Holewa
Longread: Bailey a Bridge Between Isles Eras
ISLANDERS-HURRICANES VIDEO
Full Highlights
Postgame: Lambert
Postgame: Bailey
Postgame: Nelson
Postgame: Pageau
KINGER'S CALLS
Wahlstrom's Two-on-One
Martin's Goal
Bailey's GWG
Nelson's First
Nelson's Second
"Obviously you want to bury them and feel good, so it's nice to get a couple today," Nelson said. "Our lineup's been doing some good things over the course of the season so far and maybe didn't get rewarded as much as we'd like. So to get those, especially in this game, followed up with another big win feels good."

ISLANDERS PK PROVIDES TURNING POINT:

Despite the drama around Bailey, the balanced attack and Nelson breaking out, Friday's game may have been won on the penalty kill.
The shorthanded unit went three-for-three, extending the franchise record to 28 consecutive kills to start a season and scored into an empty net to end the game. The Islanders also set a new NHL record, not allowing a power-play goal in each of their first eight games to start the year.
"Our penalty kill has been good, and our goaltender has been very good on the penalty kill," Lambert said. "There was a ton of commitment there and we were under siege for a long time. You see it on the guys when finally they were able to get off the ice, how much effort they put into it. It was a key moment in the game."
The penalty kill really earned its paycheck late in the second period, as the Islanders killed off a 1:23 five-on-three to preserve its 3-2 lead against a potent Hurricanes power play.
It wasn't without its tense moments, such as Dylan Coghlan ripping a one-timer off the iron, or JG Pageau playing a majority of it without a stick, but the Isles survived. Lambert gave some extra kudos to Pageau for giving his stick to Ryan Pulock after the defenseman's broke, essentially putting the Islanders in a five-on-two situation.
"It's your instincts," Pageau said of playing without a stick. "You have to be in position and it's desperation and sacrifice. Some big blocks by our d-men and you try to be in lanes and our killed has been good. It takes everyone the goalies, defense and forwards and I thought we did a good job again tonight."
Sorokin was also excellent on the kill, making six of his 33 saves down a man. Perhaps his best one was his final one, a windmill glove save in the dying seconds, putting a little sizzle on a night with plenty of highlights.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche at UBS Arena. It's 70s night, so come dressed up in your best bell bottoms - or other 70s gear - and you could win a prize. Popcorn will also be 75 cents. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.