Kieffer Bellows scored the equalizer and winning goals and appeared in his first game since February 18 – and only second since January 30 – to give the New York Islanders a great third period in their first game without captain Anders Lee .
The 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils is the Islanders’ eighth straight victory, extending an 11-game points game. They’re going to be on the Devils three in a row tomorrow, also in Newark.
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First period: eventful and slightly confusing
The Islanders had an early showdown, their first without Anders Lee, and absolutely peppered the Devils goal with shots and nearly. Bellows took on one of the Lee roles by getting work in front of the net on the power play.
But both units came up empty, and the Devils began firing shortly thereafter. Pavel Zacha beat Semyon Varlamov from straight and high in the slot in the rush to make it 1-0 at 6:37.
The islanders had a lot of chances and beat the Devils 13-6 in the first period, but overall it was a sloppy period by their recent standards. Instead of 1-1, it could easily have been 3-2 for both sides.
It was only late in the session that Oliver Wahlstrom got the islands on the board, on a cruel writer on a 3-on-2. The Islands gave up a 2-on-1 at the end of a power play, and Wahlstrom recovered the shooter, took it to the other side and released his shot before a back switch could disrupt him:
Second period: Meh.
The second was an ugly period, and Semyon Varlamov, who still had a quiet strong night, faced 18 shots. (He encountered ten in the other two periods.)
The Devils regained 64 seconds in the second lead, with a good forehand and pressure, followed by an extended second attempt by Janne Kuokkanen after Yegor Sharangovich sang one from the crossbar.
When the Islanders insulted Josh Bailey, he lost a few shifts while his face collided with Kuokkanen’s skate after both dived into the air for the rebound.
The islanders’ best chance to play a draw was on a short-lived breakaway from Casey Cizikas. He took away the dish at the Isles blueline and was after the race. Just as he was about to shoot, a stuffy Jack Hughes struck a pigeon and collided with an unprecedented slash in the net. The slash prevented him from shooting a shot, and the lone man – the second referee did not come out the second time – let it go.
NHL reports referee Justin St. Pierre left the game due to a torso injury and will not return. Pierre Lambert was the only ref in the second period
– Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) 14 March 2021
The islanders had late consecutive power struggles, the first perhaps a make-up call, and the second time after a comic punishment from Devils too many men. But they only created one good chance out of it, a nice Mathew Barzal cross-slot lineup for an Anthony Beauvillier one-off, expected by Mackenzie Not Scott Black Not Wedge Wood.
In general, too much slow decision-making has been undone.
The Devils themselves had some power struggles and were more threatening. They trespassed on Isles’ top defender Adam Pelech with a debatable hook on Miles Wood and Scott Mayfield late for a crossbar. Mayfield transferred 24 seconds in the third period, with the Islands still 2-1 down.
Third period: You’re the best, Bellows.
The islanders killed that remnant, and then Bellows’ time came.
His first goal was at 1:59, when he made a lead with a needle to Barzal, who pulled both defenders on the right wing, making an opening for him to lead Bellows into the slot. Bellows needed to know how much time he had and how much he rode on his lap choice. He did not hurry it, he chose his place and drilled it.
A gutter and a double fist pump followed.
Bellows ‘second goal came three minutes later, on a beautiful power play that also took advantage of the Devils’ focus on Barzal. The bellows completed an exchange of a caring puck at midfield and took it off the right wing. He looks over at the slot, enough to buy him space and get the Devils Barzal look. He then drove Devils wing Nathan Bastian to the goal line, slipped on top of the crease and moved the shooter past Black Not Wedge Wood.
3-2 Islands. Potential seasonal changer for bellows.
The game slowed down at that point, just as Barry likes it when a lead is at hand.
As the final five minutes approached, a question arose: Bellows had been kept on a short leash by Barry Trotz before, waiting for the young man to earn his time by complying with the “details” of the islanders. Would he get a chance with a one-goal lead?
Yes. Bellows was there and contributed to a good shift with four minutes left, where he, Barzal and Eberle kept the shooter in the Devils zone without taking any exuberant youth risks.
The islanders closed out last-minute runs and survived some hairy challenges once the demons pulled Black Not Wedge wood. Scott Mayfield had a couple of cleaning attempts on his hand that were kept in the zone, something that Josh Bailey was also guilty of.
But the islands survived the last pressure. Two more points in the bag. And a big third for young Bellows.
Following
The series for three matches ends tomorrow at 17:00. The islands will compete in one, and the second half of this shortened season is still in first place.