The New York Islanders secured their fifth consecutive victory Tuesday night, defeating the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 at UBS Arena, significantly boosting their playoff aspirations. With this win, the Islanders now trail the Tampa Bay Lightning by just four points for the second Wild Card position.
Simon Holmstrom was the standout performer, scoring twice and providing an assist, showcasing his skills as the Islanders remained resilient against the determined Avalanche. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin was instrumental to the win as well, making 30 saves throughout the contest, particularly shining during the second period when Colorado had the upper hand.
Anders Lee set the tone early for the Islanders, netting his team-leading 22nd goal just 4:11 minutes through the second period. Using his smooth skating and quick reflexes, Lee managed to slip the puck between Mackenzie Blackwood’s pads, giving New York the lead.
Shortly after, the Avalanche responded with Artturi Lehkonen finding the back of the net. Lehkonen scored by capitalizing on a precise feed from Nathan MacKinnon, swatting the puck past Sorokin from his grounded position. This goal came with only seven minutes remaining in the second period, leveling the game at 1-1.
Despite being outplayed for much of the second period, Sorokin's performance was pivotal, as Lee pointed out, stating, "Ilya stole the period completely. It gave us an opportunity, and we went on to win it.” Sorokin completed 11 of 12 saves during this lopsided stretch, indicating his valuable contributions when the Islanders needed it most.
Holmstrom ignited what would be a decisive third period with his goal just 1:54 minutes in, giving the Islanders the lead once again. The goal materialized when Avalanche defenseman Calvin de Haan mishandled the puck, allowing Holmstrom to collect it and deliver a well-placed shot past Blackwood off the far post.
Bo Horvat added another goal for the Islanders with just 8:37 left, scoring his 18th of the season, which served as the game-winner. The decisive play came after Lee brought the puck around behind the net. The setup appeared simple, but Horvat’s quick response near the left post solidified New York's lead at 3-1.
Although Jack Drury managed to score for the Avalanche, trimming the deficit to 3-2 with 5:05 left, it wasn't enough to change the outcome. The Islanders countered swiftly with Alexander Romanov scoring next, extending their lead again. Holmstrom capped off the night with an empty-net goal, securing the 5-2 victory.
Head coach Patrick Roy of the Avalanche expressed disappointment yet again, noting, "I think we did a lot of good things, but they capitalized on a couple of chances they had.” This defeat marked Colorado's fourth loss out of their last five games, continuing their struggles this season.
For the Islanders, the win demonstrates their capacity to fight through hardships. Now with aspirations of continuing their streak, they will head on the road, facing the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.
The stakes are high as they push forward, balancing the weight of playoff hopes against the necessity of maintaining focus and performance level.
With Scott Perunovich making his debut with the Islanders, acquired from the St. Louis Blues just before the game, the team looks to gain even more momentum moving forward. “Things are starting to click,” Holmstrom noted about the team’s chemistry, as they look to maintain their place within the competitive East.
Conversely, the Avalanche are seeking ways to prevent dropping from playoff contention as Jared Bednar emphasized the urgency, stating, “It’s go time now. We’ll drop out of a playoff spot in a hurry if we don’t get results.” With 30 games left this season, Colorado’s margin for error is dwindling rapidly, forcing them to regroup and reposition themselves as strong contenders again.
The Islanders remain resilient, and their determined performance against Colorado was on full display. They fully understand the importance of each matchup as they vie for playoff positioning and seek their goal of moving beyond the regular season.