Islanders defeat Canucks, extend point streak to 5

VANCOUVER -- Bo Horvat had two assists for the New York Islanders in a 5-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Thursday.

It was the first win in four games against the Canucks for Horvat since being acquired by the Islanders on Jan. 30, 2023, for forwards Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Raty, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

“It definitely feels good to finally get my first win against these guys,” said Horvat, who was selected by the Canucks with the No. 9 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft and spent his first nine seasons in Vancouver. “They've had my number here for the first three, and it obviously felt good to get the win.”

Anders Lee had a goal and an assist, and Scott Mayfield, Pierre Engvall and Noah Dobson each scored his first goal of the season for the Islanders (7-6-4), who extended their point streak to five games (3-0-2). Semyon Varlamov made 24 saves, including 19 in the third period.

“We are very confident right now,” New York coach Patrick Roy said.

“Tonight was a huge team effort. Everybody played really well. I mean, it's hard for me to single out anybody because everybody played real solid. ... I thought we were on the puck, sharp and good forecheck, we defended pretty well. It was a good game for us.”

Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored his first NHL goal, and Kevin Lankinen made 27 saves for Canucks (8-4-3), who have lost two of their past three games after going 7-1-1 in their previous nine.

Vancouver is 6-1-0 on the road and 2-3-3 at home.

“I apologize to the fans,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. “We're not playing good enough at home. It's on me. Guys played light tonight. I thought we were ready to go. We weren't. It's on me.”

Forward Dakota Joshua made his season debut after being diagnosed with testicular cancer over the summer. He was minus-1 in 12:05 of ice time.

“It was nice to be back out there,” Joshua said.

Lekkerimaki, who was playing in his second NHL game, put the Canucks ahead 1-0 at 2:40 of the first period. He scored with a one-timer off the rush below the blocker of Varlamov from the top of the left face-off circle.

“It means a lot,” said Lekkerimaki, whose parents were in town from Sweden. “First one is really nice. Just try to play my game and keep it going.”

Jean-Gabriel Pageau tied it 1-1 with a power-play goal at 17:23. Lee collected a hard pass from Oliver Wahlstrom at the left post before sending a no-look backhand feed through the crease to Pageau for a tap-in.

“He just keeps getting better and better with the puck and making plays,” Horvat said of Lee, who has 10 points (four goals, six assists) his past seven games. “He's just such a force down low, it's tough to get the puck off him. He's so big, so strong and he makes the game a lot easier for us.”

Mayfield put New York ahead 2-1 just 14 seconds into the second period when his shot from the right point deflected in off the sticks of Canucks forwards Pius Suter and J.T. Miller.

“The hockey gods reward you sometimes,” Lee said.

Engvall then extended the lead to 3-1 at 2:10, jamming in a rebound at the top of the crease after Lankinen made a good save off Simon Holmstrom in the slot.

Engvall did not play in the Islanders' first seven games this season, instead starting out in the American Hockey League after clearing waivers. He has three points (one goal, two assists) in nine games since being recalled.

“Outstanding,” Roy said. “He was really good. He was at the net. He scored that goal, he had other good chances. He was skating well up ice. That line played really well. Every line played really well, but that line had a really solid night.”

Kyle Palmieri appeared to make it 4-1 at 8:36 of the third period following a turnover in front of the net, but the Canucks successfully challenged the play for offside.

However, Lee did make it 4-1 at 11:42. Horvat beat Quinn Hughes down the right wing and passed back out front from below the goal line to Lee, who was left alone for a quick shot from the low slot.

Dobson shot into an empty net at 17:54 to make it 5-1.

Tyler Myers scored on a wrist shot from the right circle at 18:34 for the 5-2 final.

“We played a really solid game,” Lee said. “Our [defensemen] moved the puck really well. They were quick. They broke the puck out really well. It's a good forechecking team with a lot of skill, and I thought they did a good job of getting the puck up to the forwards and us being available in return, and that led to some sustained puck control a little bit, and we did a good job on our chances of putting it in.”

NOTES: Islanders defenseman Grant Hutton had two assists, the first two of his NHL career (24 games). ... New York was 1-for-5 on the power play. Vancouver was 0-for-1 despite pulling Lankinen to create a 6-on-4 on their only power play with 4:54 left in the third period. ... Hughes had his point streak end at five games (one goal, seven assists).