3 Takeaways: Defense Keys Offense in 7-1 Win over Ducks

The New York Islanders earned their first win of this season with a 7-1 rout of the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night at UBS Arena.
Scott Mayfield and Robin Salo each scored two goals, and Noah Dobson, Oliver Wahlstrom and Anthony Beauvillier each scored one. Troy Terry was the only goal scorer for the Ducks, as Ilya Sorokin stopped 22 of 23 shots for his first win of the season.

The Islanders scored all seven goals at five-on-five, with one coming just as a power play expired. Anders Lee led the scoring with three assists.
Head Coach Lane Lambert earned his first win as the full-time Islanders' head coach.
"I was confident because of the good things that I saw in game one," Lambert said. "I talked about little pockets that needed to be improved on. We talked about it and worked on it. We saw a bit more of it coming into play tonight. We moved up a little quicker and we were together as a group, and as a result, it led to more transition."

OFFENSE ON THE RUSH

During preseason, one point of focus for Lambert was staying active on the rush and being aggressive on offense. The Islanders took that lesson to heart against the Ducks, scoring four of their goals off of rush chances, and generating even more clean zone entries with possession.
"It was pretty smooth," Wahlstrom said. "The D get the puck up quick, and then it's all about making the right reads and the right decisions over the blue line. We did a good job and everybody was hungry to put the puck in."
The Islanders' first goal came off a rush chance generated by Anthony Beauvillier, who stayed patient while dangling over the ice to begin a shift until Wahlstrom exited, and then retrieved the puck and carried it up ice. He found Anders Lee on the other side, and Lee took a shot on net. That shot was saved, but Mayfield was right by the net and buried the rebound.
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Full Highlights
Postgame: Lambert
Postgame: Mayfield
Postgame: Wahlstrom
KINGER'S CALLS
Mayfield's First
Dobson's Point Shot
Wahlstrom's Breakaway
Mayfield's Second
Beauvillier Makes it Five
Salo's First Goal
Salo's Second Goal
The third goal of the game came off a Wahlstrom breakaway, as Pageau intercepted a puck in the Islanders zone, found Wahlstrom past the Ducks' defense and sent the young forward in alone to score. The Islanders scored their fourth goal off a controlled zone entry from Mathew Barzal, who had a number of rush opportunities and controlled zone entries. Barzal found Mayfield across the ice and Mayfield sniped it for the goal.
The Islanders' defense played a critical role in those transition chances and was active in getting pucks to the net. Mayfield and Salo each had eight shot attempts, while Ryan Pulock had seven and Dobson had six.
"It's a hard league to score in," Lambert said. "You need help from your defense to join the rush, potentially create some odd number rushes and attacks. Our forwards are doing a really good job of going to the net and when we deliver pucks they're there."

SCOTT MAYFIELD AND ROBIN SALO SCORE TWO GOALS

Mayfield and Salo each scored two goals in a game for the first time in their NHL careers.
For Mayfield's first goal, Beauvillier retrieved the puck along the boards to start a chance on the rush. He found Anders Lee, who took a shot on net. Mayfield, who'd joined the rush alongside Lee and Beauvillier, buried the rebound at the net for the first goal of the game and his first goal of the season.
Mayfield's second goal of the game came off a rush chance from Barzal, who found Mayfield on the other side of the zone. Mayfield ripped a shot from the point which sailed over Gibson's glove for the Islanders' fourth goal of the game. Mayfield, who turned 30 on Friday, started the play by disrupting a cross-ice chance on a Ducks rush.
"Our game plan starts with our forwards being able to backtrack and help us out too," Mayfield said. "They did a great job of that, that allows us to jump up. Full team effort for us to be able to jump into plays like that. It's been good so far, but we'll keep it going."
Both of Salo's shots came from the point in the third period, with his first coming just as a power play came to a close, and his second in the final minute of the game. Salo didn't have to wait as long as Mayfield for his first two-goal game, with Salo's coming in his 23rd career contest. Salo finished the game with eight shot attempts (three on net, five blocked) in 17:05.

CLUTTERBUCK AND WAHLSTROM RETURN

After missing the first game of the season, Cal Clutterbuck and Wahlstrom joined the Islanders against Anaheim, and their impact was felt.
Clutterbuck started hot, ending the first period with four hits, the most of any Islander. His line was on the ice for the second goal of the game, a point shot from Dobson.
"That line works well together, but just his leadership," Lambert said of Clutterbuck's return. "Nice, calm, calm demeanor and businesslike approach and obviously he's got his physicality. He was really good on the penalty kill tonight so a real good boost for our team."
Clutterbuck finished the game with five shots attempts - three on goal - and four hits in 12:03 TOI.
Wahlstrom scored a goal and was active on the rush and the backcheck. On his score, he put pressure on the Ducks' defenseman at the blue line, who made an errant pass that Jean-Gabriel Pageau was able to disrupt. Pageau sprung Wahlstrom who found open ice and went forehand to backhand to beat Gibson and lift the puck into the net.
"We just need one look and we got it," Wahlstrom said. "Pageau made an unbelievable defensive play and I was able to bury it."