Recap: Greiss, Isles Grind Out 2-1 Shootout Win Over Devils

Josh Bailey scored the game-deciding goal in the fourth round of the shootout, while Thomas Greiss made 30 saves, as the New York Islanders beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night at Prudential Center.
With the shootout win, the Islanders completed the regular season series sweep against their Metropolitan Division rivals, their first sweep since the 2014-15 season. Mathew Barzal and Kevin Rooney scored the two goals in regulation, while Cory Schneider made 27 saves in the loss.
BOXSCORE | TROTZ POST GAME

GOALIES SHINE IN LOW-SCORING WIN:

The grind-it-out portion of the schedule is upon the Islanders, just like Head Coach Barry Trotz predicted.
"The last 30 games, everyone ramps it up to a different level," Trotz said. "It's not going to come easy."
That was true on Thursday night. The Islanders needed 65 minutes, four shootout rounds and a great night from Greiss to put the Devils away.
It was a low-scoring game - the Isles third game with one goal or fewer in their last four - though not for a lack of chances, as Greiss and Schneider were locked in a goaltender's duel, shutting the door after allowing a goal each in the first 13:42.
"A lot of credit to the Devils. They are really good in this building and didn't give us much room," Trotz said. "They got good goaltending when they needed it, just like we did and you just have to find a way to win and if it has to go to overtime, or a shootout, we'll find a way to have to do that."

For Greiss, the win was his third in four starts, with the Isles goalie stopping an impressive 128-of-130 shots over that span. Rooney ended Greiss' personal shutout streak at 152:20 with a goal high-glove side at 5:32 of the first period, but that was all the Devils could muster.
Greiss did get some help, with Jesper Bratt's ringing a shot off two posts in overtime and Johnny Boychuk taking a heads up hooking penalty to take away an empty net from Kyle Palmieri in the third.
"They shot a lot of pucks, but I don't think they had too many scoring chances," Greiss said. "We did a good job of keeping them to the outside, battled hard and took the rebounds away. We played a good game."
Schneider was also good on Thursday night, looking solid in his first start since Dec. 14. Barzal beat Schneider on a breakaway set up by a long stretch pass by Ryan Pulock at 13:42 of the first, but that closed the curtain on goals for the evening. Schneider sent the game to overtime by robbing Anthony Beauvillier on the doorstep late in the third and came up with a pair of key saves on Bailey in overtime.

Bailey eventually got the last laugh, scoring the lone goal in the shootout, improving the Isles to 3-5 in the bonus round this season. Despite a strong effort, Schneider dropped to 0-16-3 since Dec. 27, 2017.
"We had to get one for our goalie," Bailey said. "They've done a great job this year in the shootout and we haven't scored enough goals for them. It was nice to get one and be able to seal it."

CLUTTERBUCK LEAVES GAME:

Cal Clutterbuck left Thursday's game in the second period and did not return. Trotz did not offer an update after the game.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders host the Colorado Avalanche in a Saturday matinee at Barclays Center, the first of a back-to-back set in Brooklyn. Puck drop is at 1 p.m.