Michael Grabner wins it for Islanders with overtime goal
Islanders' Michael Grabner celebrates his game-winning goal against the Winnipeg Jets during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. Credit: AP / Trevor Hagan
Without Andrew MacDonald and Thomas Vanek, the Islanders looked different. The results were different, too.
Michael Grabner scored on a breakaway with 1:07 left in overtime for a 3-2 Islanders win over the Jets Tuesday night.
The Jets tied the game with 5:07 to play, then the Islanders had to kill off a late power play.
These new-look Islanders played a hard road game, keeping it mostly simple and relying on goalie Anders Nilsson to bail them out when the Jets, who have clawed back into the Western Conference playoff picture, turned their game up.
But Josh Bailey's hesitation as he pulled up on a rush cost him the puck and the Islanders the lead. Andrew Ladd cruised in on a breakaway and beat Nilsson to tie the game.
Jack Capuano said before the game he went back to Nilsson, who was in goal for Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Panthers, because "we need to see what we have here."
Nilsson responded with a strong game and made 36 saves, 17 in the second period. Anders Lee put the Islanders ahead in the second when he batted a rebound out of the air and past the Jets' Ondrej Pavelec at 1:33. Video review confirmed it.
Colin McDonald scored the Isles' first goal after Ryan Strome's shot caromed off the end boards and out to McDonald, who evened the game at 17:30 of the first, answering Ladd's goal at 10:57.
