NEW YORK — Noah Dobson contributed a goal and an assist as the New York Islanders defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Friday night, putting an end to their six-game losing streak.
Casey Cizikas and Simon Holmstrom also scored for New York. Goalie Ilya Sorokin was solid in net, stopping 27 shots. The Islanders are focused on a strong finish to the season with seven games remaining.
Mats Zuccarello was the lone scorer for Minnesota. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 24 saves as the Wild suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.
Holmstrom`s go-ahead goal occurred at 4:02 of the second period when his pass inadvertently deflected off Frederick Gaudreau’s skate and past Gustavsson.
Dobson extended the Islanders` lead to two goals with a power-play goal at 3:36 of the third period.
Key Points
Wild: Defenseman Jake Middleton exited the game in the second period and did not return due to injury.
Islanders: Veteran forward Matt Martin rejoined the Islanders` lineup for the first time since January 16. He replaced forward Anthony Duclair, who is currently taking personal time to reflect on the season.
Turning Point
Cizikas evened the score by redirecting a shot from Dobson past Gustavsson. This crucial goal came just 36 seconds after Zuccarello had given the Wild a brief 1-0 advantage in the second period.
Stat of the Game
The Wild`s recent road struggles continued, as they have now lost five in a row and seven of their last eight games away from home. Despite this, Minnesota remains among the league leaders in road wins with 22 this season, tied for third in the NHL.
Looking Ahead
The Wild will be at home against Dallas on Sunday, while the Islanders will host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
Tristan Blackwood