Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Mikhail Grabovski had the eventual winning
goal to lead the New York Islanders in a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Anders Lee and Colin McDonald also scored for the Islanders, who had lost four
of five coming in. Jaroslav Halak made eight saves in the win.
Marcus Foligno and Drew Stafford scored for the Sabres, who had won two of
three coming in. Michal Neuvirth allowed all three goals on 31 shots.
It was the second time this season the Sabres were held to a franchise-record
10 shots, as the team was also held to 10 by Toronto on Oct. 28.
New York got on the board 16:19 into the first on McDonald’s first of the
season, as he finished off a feed from Casey Cizikas with a one-timer from the
right wing.
The Islanders made it a 2-0 game halfway through the second on the power play
as Travis Hamonic sent a shot on net from the right wing that hit off the back
boards, with Lee picking up the puck to the left of the net and stuffing it
in.
It was 3-0 just over a minute later as Frans Nielsen won a right circle
faceoff back to Hamonic, who skated to the low right circle before sending the
puck back to the slot where Grabovski wristed it home.
Buffalo got one back a minute later as Nikita Zadorov’s shot from the left
wing was stopped, and Foligno was able to knock home the rebound as he crashed
the net.
The Sabres made it a one-goal game with 5:03 to play in the second off a
turnover that saw Stafford skate the puck down the right wing and shift the
puck to the backhand before tucking it in one-handed.
New York’s defense, though, shut Buffalo down in the third period, holding the
team to just two shots to finish off the contest.
Game Notes
New York hosts Edmonton on Tuesday … Buffalo hosts Ottawa on Tuesday …
Hamonic had two assists … Buffalo went 0-for-3 on the power play, while New
York was 1-for-2 … Before the game, the Islanders placed forward Michael
Grabner on injured reserve and recalled forwards Colin McDonald and Harry
Zolnierczyk under emergency conditions.
