Glendale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) – Frans Nielsen’s goal with 2:31 left in
regulation lifted the New York Islanders to a 1-0 victory over the Arizona
Coyotes on Saturday.
Jaroslav Halak made 19 saves for his first shutout of the season. Mikhail
Grabovski and Thomas Hickey each registered an assist for the Islanders, who
have won three straight games and finished a five-game road trip at 3-2-0.
Mike Smith stopped 31-of-32 shots for Arizona, which entered the game with a
three straight wins.
Smith turned aside 11 shots in the first period and eight in the second, but
the Islanders finally lit the lamp late in the third.
Grabovski skated around the net to the left circle and backhanded a pass to
the slot, where Nielsen beat Smith’s glove with quick wrister for the game’s
sole offense.
Brian Strait went off for tripping with 1:37 seconds to play, but the Coyotes
were unable to supply any offense skating 6-on-4 as Keith Yandle and Shane
Doan each fired shots wide of the net.
Game Notes
Halak registered his 31st career shutout and recorded a whitewash with his
fourth NHL team (Montreal, St. Louis, Washington, Islanders) … Arizona
finished 0-for-5 on the power play, while New York was unsuccessful in three
instances … Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett tied Bob Francis for the most
games coached in franchise history with 390 … Arizona defenseman Zbynek
Michalek played in his 500th NHL game.
