3 Takeaways: Isles Close Out Preseason with 3-1 Win over Rangers

The New York Islanders won their preseason finale on Saturday night in a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers at UBS Arena.
Kieffer Bellows, Mathew Barzal and Zach Parise (PPG) each scored for the Islanders, with Josh Bailey (2A) picked up two primary assists on the Barzal and Parise goals.
Saturday's roster consisted mainly of Islander veterans taking on a team of Ranger veterans, the closest iteration this preseason to what the teams might look like opening night, and the pace of play reflected it.

The Islanders were outshot 29-16 in the game, but Ilya Sorokin turned in his strongest performance so far in the preseason, allowing just one goal in the third period and making 28 saves. The team also excelled on special teams, with Parise's goal coming on the power play, and the Islanders killing off all four Ranger power play attempts.
"They came out buzzing, they've got some good players on that team," Barzal said. "They were making plays and dancing around. We weathered the storm a little bit early and (Sorokin) made some big saves, and then we took it from there."
With the win, the Isles wrap the preseason with a 4-2-0 record.

BARZAL STAYS HOT:

Barzal scored for his second straight game in the preseason, which are also his first two games since signing an eight-year extension with the Islanders.
On Saturday, Barzal scored the second goal of the game. Josh Bailey won a puck battle along the boards and dropped the puck off for Barzal, who curled out of the corner and into the middle of the ice where he sniped Shesterkin in the top corner. On Thursday, Barzal tied up the game for the Islanders, scoring the team's first goal of the game and his first of the preseason. Pulock kept the puck in the zone and dished it to Barzal who was wide open in the slot. Barzal went backhand to forehand and buried it for his first goal.
"Shooting, just trying to get close to the net, trying to pick my spots a little better or lean in some shots and been fortunate enough to get two," Barzal said of his hot streak.
Barzal finished the game with five shot attempts, including a breakaway in the third period that was denied by Shesterkin. Head Coach Lane Lambert said he was glad to see his playmaking center adopt more of a shooter's mentality.
"We certainly are pushing for more shots," Lambert said. "I thought he could have shot the puck a little more tonight. It was nice to see him shoot that puck and obviously, you see his edges, he's tough to contain, so what I'm most happy about on that play was that he shot the puck."

SOROKIN SHARP

Sorokin had his best performance of the preseason Saturday, saving 28 of 29 shots. After conceding four goals in just two periods in his first start, and three in his second start, Sorokin allowed just one goal, a Kaapo Kakko inside corner snipe in the third period.
"He was outstanding," Lambert said. "[He was] sharp [and] seeing pucks, tracking them and finding pucks through traffic. I thought he played very, very well."
His best sequence came in the second period, making three crucial saves on the penalty kill to maintain the Islanders' two-goal lead. Sorokin faced a heavy workload early in the game, as the Islanders failed to record a shot on goal over seven minutes had passed, including a key blocker save on an Artemi Panarin slapper off the rush.
Sorokin said the heavy workload early helped him lock in.
"If you have a lot of shots, you feel in shape," Sorokin said. "For me, it's very hard when you see just two shots in a period, like with (Shesterkin), it's very hard. When you get work, you feel better."

BELLOWS FINDS THE BACK OF THE NET

Bellows scored his first goal of the preseason Saturday, and a team-high six shot attempts and three hits. Bellows scored his goal off an assist from Sebastian Aho, who faked the shot to trick the goalie, and found an open Bellows by the net for the tap-in.
Bellows also had a key play beforehand, throwing a check on Vincent Trocheck, which put him in position to receive Aho's pass.
Bellows also had a strong game against the Flyers on Oct. 4, where he made it on the scoresheet with a power play assist and led the team with six hits, and built on that performance on Saturday.
"I just want to bring that power forward mindset, that power forward game where I'm physical, I'm shooting pucks and I'm making plays," Bellows said prior to Saturday's game. "I want to go out there and be hard to play against in all zones. I want to be a burden to play against."

NEXT GAME:

The next one counts, as the Islanders begin the regular season on Thursday night against the Florida Panthers at UBS Arena.