3 Takeaways: Isles Score Seven, Win Fifth Straight Game

Make it five-in-a-row.

The New York Islanders won their fifth-straight game on Thursday night, starting off their four-game road trip with an explosive 7-2 win over the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center.

Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov, Bo Horvat (1G, 2A), Kyle MacLean, Mathew Barzal, Sebastian Aho and Anders Lee (PPG) scored for the Islanders, who tied their season-high goal output in the win. Horvat and Brock Nelson (3A) each had three-point games, while 13 total Isles hit the scoresheet.

“Overall, it's a beautiful win for us,” Head Coach Patrick Roy said.

Thomas Bordeleau (PPG) and Mike Hoffman scored for the Sharks, who saw their winless skid hit nine games (0-7-2). Ilya Sorokin stopped 23 of 25 for his fifth-straight win, while Magnus Chrona allowed seven goals on 33 shots in the loss.

With the win, the Isles (70 points) have won five-straight for the first time this season and are currently two points of the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning (72 points each) in the Wild Card race.

“These wins matter,” Horvat said. “These games matter here coming up and all the way down the stretch. They’re going to matter every single night. We’re definitely feeling good about ourselves right now and we have to keep that going.”

Despite the big result, the Isles were all business coming off the ice after their 7-2 win. Romanov summed up the feeling in the room and the Isles focus.

“We're getting more confidence every single game,” Romanov said. “We know our goals. Right now our goal to win six in a row.”

ISLES OFFENSE FLOWS FREELY:

The road trip started off about as well as it possibly could, as a Dobson wrister from the blue line caromed off a pair of Sharks and in at the 19 second mark. That was a harbinger of things to come as the offense flowed easily for the Isles on Thursday, roughing up a Swedish goalie appearing his fourth NHL game.

Long-range goals from Dobson and Romanov papered over a first period that saw the Sharks out-attempt and out-chance the Islanders, but the Isles turned up the heat in the second period.

New York outshot San Jose 13-6 in the middle frame, racking up as many high-danger chances (6) as the Sharks had shots. It translated to goals, as Horvat walked off the goal line and beat Chrona far side to make it 3-1 at 11:24, while MacLean scored his third NHL goal 40 seconds later with a sharp-angled snipe off the post and in. The Horvat and MacLean goals actually sandwiched a Mike Hoffman tally, as the two teams scored three times in under a minute.

“The goal that MacLean scored was a big one for us,” Roy said. “Every time they scored we got one back. It's a great sign.”

The Isles pulled away from there. Barzal gloved down a Sharks clearing attempt and converted a give-and-go with Brock Nelson (3A) to make it 5-2 at 14:21. Barzal’s goal was his 20^th of the season, marking the second time he’s hit that mark in his career. Barzal’s goal also extended his point streak to six games (3G, 4A).

Aho made it 6-2 at the 16:25 mark, pinching off the blue line finishing a feed from Horvat. Both Horvat (1G, 2A) and Nelson (3A) finished with three points.

It was a night where everything seemed to go in for the Isles and that was true for Lee, who’s pass across the slot from below the goal line caromed off Jan Rutta and in for a power-play goal to make it 7-2.

“I think everybody came to play tonight, everybody was doing the right things and we were obviously burying our opportunities,” Horvat said. “Good way to start off the trip, we've got a lot of work to.”

THREE ISLES D-MEN SCORE IN WIN:

Three different defensemen scored for the Islanders on Thursday night, as Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov and Sebastian Aho all found the back of the net. It marked the first time since a 7-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 15, 2022 the Isles got goals from three different d-men.

Dobson’s goal was his eighth of the season and extended his point streak to four games (1G, 3A).

Romanov’s goal was his seventh of the season, which has more than tripled his previous career-high in goals (2), set last season. The Russian blueliner didn’t come away totally clean as he took a heavy high-stick to the face in just his second game since shedding a full face shield.

Aho’s goal was his second of the year and first since Dec. 23, 2023 in Carolina, snapping a 21-game goal drought.

Adam Pelech picked up an assist, giving him three in his last two games, while Ryan Pulock picked up an assist, meaning five d-men hit the scoresheet.

The Isles defense has now 48 points (10G, 38A) in 17 games under Patrick Roy, including 38 points (9G, 29A) in the past 13 games.

“They're a big part of our offense,” Roy said. “When I say unit of five, it includes the defensemen. We want to make sure that our forwards are covering for our D when they do and, our D has been feeling good about themselves when they're supporting the rush or moving the puck.”

STANDINGS WATCH:

The Islanders (70 points) were focused on themselves Thursday, but they got some help around the league.

The Tampa Bay Lightning (72 points) fell 6-3 to the Calgary Flames, so the Isles are now two points back of the Bolts, who hold the second wild card, with two games in hand. The Isles are also two points back of the Detroit Red Wings – with the same number of games played – after the Wings fell 7-2 to Colorado on Wednesday.

It wasn’t all good news, as the Philadelphia Flyers (74 points) beat the league-leading Florida Panthers 2-1. The Isles have two games in hand on the Flyers, who currently sit third in the Metropolitan Division.

NEXT GAME:

The Isles take on the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. et.