3 Takeaways: Nelson Nets Four Goals as Isles Down Habs 6-2

C'est bon!
The New York Islanders returned to Montreal for the first time in nearly two years and came out with two points, skating to a 6-2 win over the Canadiens at Centre Bell.
Brock Nelson's first-career four-goal game led the way for the Islanders, who built up a 5-0 lead through two periods. Oliver Wahlstrom and Jean-Gabriel Pageau also found the back of the net for the Islanders, while Anthony Beauvillier chipped in three assists.

"We had a lot of guys going tonight," Beauvillier said. "Obviously, [Nelson], our line was good tonight. [Pageau's] line [was good]… It's a team win. It's an identity win so everyone is happy. We'll get out of here with two points."
In net, Ilya Sorokin stopped 36 of 38 for the Islanders. Jake Allen allowed five goals on 25 shots in two periods for Montreal and was replaced by Sam Montembeault, who made 10 saves on 10 shots, in the third.
With the win, the Islanders extended their point streak to six games (4-0-2).

NELSON NETS FOUR GOALS:

Tired: Brocktober.
Wired: Brovember.
Brock Nelson started the Islanders' November slate off with a bang, recording his first-ever four-goal game on Thursday night.
Nelson opened the scoring for the Islanders in the first period, then netted his second and third goals of the game in the second period, putting the Islanders up 3-0 and 4-0, respectively. His night started early, opening the scoring at 4:14 of the first period. Sprung by an Adam Pelech stretch pass to Beauvillier up the middle, Nelson went one-on-one with David Savard, drove the net and took a touch pass from Kyle Palmieri before backhanding his first past Jake Allen.
The 30-year-old center was in the right place at the right time for his second goal, knocking in a Beauvillier rebound to make it 3-0 at 12:25. Nelson made a key defensive play at the other end, gloving down a loose puck by the Islanders net before sending the play back the other way.
He completed the trick, his first since Feb. 9, 2018 against the Detroit Red Wings, just under three minutes later, finishing off a two-on-one rush with Beauvillier, who finished the game with a trio of assists. However, Nelson's night wasn't done there, as he buried an empty-netter to ice the game with 19 seconds to play.
"It's nice to chip in and get a couple," Nelson said. "I thought our line played well. A byproduct of a couple of nice plays. [Palmieri] had a nice backhand touch on the first one. A couple of good plays from [Beauvillier] too. It's always nice to have a big night and when your line is contributing and all a factor, it feels good."
Nelson now leads the Islanders with six goals this season.

PAGEAU, PARISE AND CHARA GET FIRSTS:

A lot of Islanders got in on the action thanks to Thursday night's six-goal output.
JG Pageau scored his first goal of the season, posting up in front of the Canadiens' net on a delayed penalty before burying a feed from Zach Parise.
"Playing with Zach is something fun," Pageau said. "He's a hard working player that's always in the right spot. He's always there to cover you. It's been fun playing with him. It's fun for us to get on the board tonight. That goal was all him. He put it right there. All I had to do was just put it in. It was an amazing pass."
ISLanders 6, canadiens 2
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With the assist, Parise picked up his first point as an Islander, a just reward from the veteran winger whose game had been building of late. Parise added a second assist at the end of the game on Nelson's empty-netter.
"It always feels good," Parise said of getting a point. "Our line has been doing a lot of good things. Not only tonight, but other games, we've been spending a lot of time in the offensive zone, not too much time in the defensive zones. Getting some quality chances and Wahlstrom's been scoring, but it's always nice to get rewarded."
Pageau and Parise did not factor into Oliver Wahlstrom's second period goal, which was set up by a nifty pass from Casey Cizikas after the center hunted down a dump-in, but all three linemates hit the scoresheet in some fashion. Wahlstrom has goals - snipes really - in back-to-back games, as he put some mustard on a wrister high over Allen at 3:31 of the second.
In addition to Parise's first points as an Islander, Zdeno Chara earned his first point since returning to the Isles. Chara teed up a quarter slapper on Nelson's second goal of the game, which deflected off Beauvillier before landing on Nelson's stick.
Chara finished the game with a team-high 21:08 TOI, as well as three shots on goal.

SOROKIN CONTINUES TO SHINE:

Despite the Islanders season-high five goals, Ilya Sorokin still played a factor in Thursday's win.
Sorokin, making his eighth-straight start, had to be good early, stopping 10 shots in a back-and-forth first period. His biggest save came in the second period, turning aside a Christian Dvorak breakaway with the Islanders up 2-0.
"He's been really strong and when I do the chances, the games are probably a lot more even," Trotz said. "He makes timely saves for us and makes some saves you don't think he's going to make and gives us a chance to counter and go the other way. He gives us a chance every night."
The 26-year-old goalie was 4:40 away from his third shutout of the season, but allowed a shorthanded goal to Canadiens leading scorer Nick Suzuki, who kept and shot stick side on a two-on-one rush. Tyler Toffoli added a goal on a five-on-three with 2:56 remaining to account for Montreal's second goal.
Late blemishes aside, Sorokin turned in another solid performance, stopping 36 of 38 and allowing two goals or fewer in four-straight games.
While Sorokin has started every game for the Islanders the streak is likely to come to an end over the weekend, with Semyon Varlamov healthy and the Islanders on the verge of a back-to-back set.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders trip through Canada continues on Saturday night in Winnipeg. Puck drop against the Jets goes at 7 p.m.