Die Anpflanzler [DA] » The New York Islanders

UNIONDALE Youth Pavel Zacha Jersey , N.Y. (AP) — have been winning this season thanks largely to stalwart defense and strong goaltending. A timely goal from their captain also proved huge for their playoff push in another close victory.Anders Lee scored the tiebreaking goal late in the third period and Thomas Greiss stopped 33 shots as the Islanders beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Thursday night.Defenseman Adam Pelech also scored his fifth goal of the season in the second period to help the Islanders win for the fourth time in five games to remain two points behind first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division. New York has 12 games remaining, one more than the Capitals.“It’s so important to get these two points especially against a team like Montreal,” said the 24-year-old Pelech, who has had a breakout campaign on the blue line with 17 points. “We had plenty of guys who stepped up tonight and Greisser played a great game.”Jordie Benn had the tying goal for Montreal late in the second, and Carey Price finished with 36 saves.Lee converted on a 2-on-1 with Matthew Barzal for his team-leading 25th goal of the season with 2:57 remaining. Lee waited patiently for Barzal to pass him the puck at the edge of the left circle before whipping it past Price. Lee, who became the team’s captain this season following the departure of John Tavares, has seven goals in the last 13 games. Barzal’s assist was his team-leading 39th.“This is the kind of hockey and tight games we’re going to see the rest of the way,” Lee said. “These are the tight games you have to have.”The Islanders followed up their shutout win over division-rival Columbus on Monday with another solid defensive performance against the speedy Canadiens.“We got a chance in the third and we buried it Authentic Taylor Hall Jersey ,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said.After a scoreless first period, Pelech put the Islanders ahead at 1:20 of the second. Brock Nelson and Andrew Ladd assisted.Benn tied it with 1:50 left in the middle period when his shot from the left point eluded Greiss. Paul Byron and Nate Thompson assisted on Benn’s fifth of the season.The teams played a brisk playoff-type game with both Griess and Price making acrobatic saves at both ends. The Islanders outshout the Canadiens 15-9 in the first. The Canadiens had a 16-14 shots advantage in the second.The vibrant play continued in the third as the teams traded chances before Lee’s heroics.The Islanders are 27-10-3 in their last 40 games and now a season-high 19 games over .500. They have already surpassed last season’s win and point total when they missed the playoffs for the second straight time.This season under Trotz they are vying for a home-ice advantage to start the postseason. Trotz likes what he sees with just over three weeks left in the regular season.“We’re showing poise,” said Trotz, who coached the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup last spring. “In the playoffs, work ethic and patience are the difference.”The Canadiens are battling Columbus for the second wild card spot in the conference. They were coming off Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Detroit at home in which Price became the winningest goalie in Canadiens history with victory 315.“We played a team that looked like they’re ready for the playoffs. We had opportunities. In the end it was disappointing,” Price said. “It’s a learning experience. We have to move on.”NOTES: The Islanders continued to struggle on the power play, failing to convert on two chances. They are now 0 for 22 with the man advantage in their past 10 games. … The Islanders are now 10-5-2 at Nassau Coliseum. They were 12-6-2 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn this season … The teams meet again March 21 at Montreal. … The Islanders were without D Johnny Boychuk for the second straight game since he was injured against Philadelphia last Saturday. … The Islanders scratched F Tom Kuhnhackl, F Michael Dal Colle Womens Will Butcher Jersey , F Ross Johnston and D Luca Sbisa … Montreal scratched F Dale Weise, F Charles Hudon, F Nicolas Deslauriers, F Matthew Peca and D Mike Reilly.UP NEXTIslanders: At Detroit on Saturday.Canadiens: Host Chicago on Saturday. CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Johnny Gaudreau’s scoring drought is over.Gaudreau’s first goal in 10 games and 30th of the season was one of two third-period scores for the Calgary Flames in a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday.Austin Czarnik, with his third goal in as many games, broke a 2-2 tie 6:10 into the third and Gaudreau scored 29 seconds later on a power play.“I probably could have found the net with two or three different looks I had. Just the way it’s been going,” said Gaudreau http://www.officialislanders.com/authentic-adidas-adam-pelech-jersey , the team’s leading scorer who tied his career high for goals set in 2015-16.The goal came on a slap shot into the top corner, just eight seconds into a man advantage.“I had a pretty good lane there. It was a good play up top, across the zone. I had a lot of time and a lot of space and I just wired it,” Gaudreau said.Calgary dominated the first two periods, outshooting New York 21-6, but the Flames only led by one goal. The Islanders tied it 2-2 on Anders Lee’s 20th goal 1:18 into the third.But it was tied for less than five minutes.“That’s probably as good as we’ve played on the defensive side,” said Travis Hamonic, who had a goal against his former team. “We’re confident and when you’re playing good teams like that Anders Lee Jersey , you have to show up and we did, right from the start.”Hamonic’s goal at 15:59 of the first made it 2-0 for Calgary.“I’d be lying if I didn’t say it felt good,” Harmonic said. “So many good friends and so much fun and great memories on Long Island so to be able to put one in tonight, it obviously feels good.”Mikael Backlund also scored for Calgary. Elias Lindholm had an assist to extend his point streak to six games (two goals, seven assists). The Flames have won three straight after going winless in four and continue to lead the Pacific Division and Western Conference.Casey Cizikas and Lee scored for New York.The surging Islanders, who opened a three-game road trip through Western Canada, lost in regulation for just the third time in 16 games.“We got a big ‘F.’ Failure. We had too many passengers,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “We were poor on our exits. We were poor on our execution. We were poor on our battles. We were poor on our races. We were poor.”The Islanders’ lead over Washington atop the Metropolitan division remained at three points.“We didn’t come out hard enough and that’s the bottom line. I think we showed them a little too much respect Andrew Ladd Jersey ,” Cizikas said. “Down low in their own end I thought we gave too many pucks away. For a team that likes to get the puck down low and work it, we just couldn’t do that tonight. We have to have a short memory because we have a big one (Thursday).”Backlund opened the scoring just five minutes in on a two-on-one. Michael Frolik landed a perfect pass on Backlund’s stick as he cut to the net and he neatly tucked the puck past Thomas Greiss.Greiss, who entered the game with an NHL-leading .930 save percentage, finished with 28 stops and fell to 17-9-2.Starting a fourth consecutive game for the first time since the first four games of the season, Mike Smith made 17 saves and improved to 17-11-1.“We have to be that air tight moving forward and we are capable of playing that game,” Flames coach Bill Peters said. “We need to maintain our strong offensive game while being sound defensively.”Notes: Peters switched around his top two lines with Matthew Tkachuk moving onto the top line with Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Lindholm played right wing with Backlund and Frolik… TJ Brodie returned after missing the last game due to injury.NOTES: Flames coach Bill Peters switched around his top two lines with Matthew Tkachuk moving onto the top line with Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Lindholm played right wing with Backlund and Frolik. … Brodie returned after missing the last game due to injury.UP NEXTIslanders: At Edmonton on Thursday night.Flames: Host Anaheim on Friday night.