GAME RECAP: Islanders 3, Oilers 0

ELMONT, NY – It was a long night on Long Island.

Forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored twice in 2:06 of a three-goal second period for the New York Islanders, who received a stellar 49-save performance from netminder Ilya Sorokin in a 3-0 shutout victory over the Edmonton Oilers at UBS Arena on Wednesday night.

Goaltender Jack Campbell made 27 saves in the defeat that marked his first start for the Oilers in four games.

The Blue & Orange wrap up their three-game road trip through the tri-state area on Saturday afternoon when they face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Video: Oilers, 0 – Islanders, 3

RE-HEATING THE SOUP

It had been four contests since Jack Campbell took to the crease for the Oilers, and the American netminder began the game looking sharp in his first appearance between the pipes for Edmonton in 13 days.

As the Oilers offence in front of him waded its way into the game, needing 12 minutes to register their first shot, Campbell was steady in the opening period before coming up with his biggest stop four minutes into the middle frame. 

Leon Draisaitl had a break-out attempt broken up by Brock Nelson below the goal line before it was wrapped it around in front to the danger area. Anders Lee was waiting in front for a chance that he quickly put on goal, but Campbell shot out with the right pad and denied a great scoring upportunity for the Islanders.

FIRST BLOOD

With the Oilers on their first powerplay, the puck was broken up in the Isles’ end and soon ended up in the back of Edmonton’s net.

Adam Pelech and Zach Parise combined to break up a pass through the middle by Nugent-Hopkins that was meant for McDavid, sending the Islanders up the ice shorthanded. Up the middle of the ice in transition, Jean-Gabriel Pageau was flashing to the net, where centre one-tapped Parise’s feed past Campbell in front to open the scoring 4:33 into the second period.

TWO MINUTES LATER…

The Islanders then found themselves on the powerplay soon after goin ahead and doubled their lead. Pageau tried to send a pass across the crease to the waiting Lee, but his feed struck the stick of Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard before it found its way past Campbell just 2:06 after the Isles opened the scoring.

Before the period concluded, the Oilers deficit would be three after Oliver Wahlstrom came out from behind the net and fed Sebastian Aho, who beat Campbell glove side with 3:04 left in the middle frame. An uphill battle to get back into the hockey game for Edmonton got even steeper.

NOTHING SPECIAL

It was not a memorable night for the Oilers special teams. The Islanders were the only ones to make anything happen on Edmonton’s powerplay, which went 0-for-5 and surrendered a shorthanded goal to Pageau after coming into tonight’s game tied with the Boston Bruins for 21 power-play goals — the most in the NHL.

The Islanders were 1-for-2 with their own man advantage against the Oilers, who’ve given up the second-most PPG’s against (22) and power-play opportunities (79) in the NHL this season.

PARTING WORDS

Check back for reaction to tonight’s game following post-game media avails.