UBS Arena, NEW YORK – Matthew Schaefer had a goal and an assist as the New York Islanders beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 on Tuesday.
Schaefer extended his points streak to six, in six career NHL games, with his first multi-point effort. Bo Horvat, Casey Cizikas, and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, who have won three straight. Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves.
Collin Graf had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, as their record falls to 0-4-2. Michael Misa had his first career NHL point on Adam Gaudette’s second goal of the season. Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves.
“Told the group after (to) stick together and just keep getting better. Just get a little bit better tomorrow and be ready to get a first win in MSG,” Ryan Warsofsky said postgame.
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The San Jose Sharks came out firing in the first period but found themselves down 3-2 after the opening frame. They created turnovers and converted on two offensive chances, but costly defensive mistakes in front of their own net led to goals against.
The Sleepover line of Macklin Celebrini, Tyler Toffoli, and Will Smith was dominant and was rewarded with a goal from Celebrini in the third.
“We’re still trying to find our first one. It’s frustrating. I think we played well overall,” Misa said. “We tried to fight back there at the end, but we’re just gonna keep pushing.”
Nick Leddy, Vincent Desharnais, and Sam Dickinson struggled to take care of the puck and protect the crease. Penalties were once again a problem for the Sharks, as they gave up two power-play goals.
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Ty Dellandrea fed Graf on a shorthanded two-on-one at 8:29 of the first period. Graf collected the pass on his backhand and quickly fired a shot past the blocker of Sorokin.
Horvat tied the game at 1-1 for the Islanders with a power play goal at 9:26. Mathew Barzal fed a pass from the goal line to the blocker side of Askarov, which Horvat sniped bar-down on the short side.
Cizikas put the Islanders ahead 2-1 1:06 later after Sam Dickinson lost the puck behind the net. Cizikas found the loose puck in front and beat Askarov through the five-hole.
Gaudette tied it at 2-2 at 14:16 off a great feed by Misa, his first point in the NHL.
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“It was a good play by Graf to find me, with a look pass. Then I saw Gaudette there coming down for a one-timer, so I fed it. It was a good play.”
Heineman put the Islanders ahead with another power play goal with 31.9 seconds left after Askarov didn’t go down to his butterfly with the puck in the crease.
Schaefer put the Islanders ahead 4-2 at 6:38 of the second period off a great pass from former Sharks forward Anthony Duclair.
“I think I could have collapsed a little better. Not sure I should have gone out. I have to re-watch it, I’m just basing it off of live time,” Sharks defenseman Nick Leddy said. “It hit one of our sticks kind of laid right there for him, and obviously he capitalized.”
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Celebrini cut the Islanders’ lead to 4-3 at 10:16 of the third period. Dmitry Orlov got the primary assist, his sixth point of the season.
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