Howard Stays Winless Since Dec. 3 As Islanders Beat Red Wings, 4-1
VIN A. CHERWOO, AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist to key a three-goal second period and the New York Islanders beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Monday.
Josh Bailey, Marek Zidlicky and Ryan Strome also scored to help New York win for the fourth time in five games overall and fourth straight at home. Thomas Greiss stopped 28 shots to win his fifth straight start and seventh of his last eight, improving to 16-6-2 on the season.
Pavel Datsyuk scored and Jimmy Howard also finished with 28 saves while falling to 0-5-3 in his last nine starts for the Red Wings, who were coming off a 4-0-1 homestand.
Nelson got the Islanders on the scoreboard near the midpoint of the second period with his career-high 21st goal and 100th career point. Strome lifted the puck forward toward a streaking Nelson, who tipped it in the air toward the net. Howard stopped the shot but the puck deflected to Nelson, who knocked the rebound past the goalie from the right side.
Bailey doubled the lead with just over five minutes left in the period. About 1 1/2 minutes after Datsyuk was sent off for delay of game for knocking the puck over the glass, Johnny Boychuk fired the puck from the right faceoff circle. It deflected off Howard in front to Bailey, who one-timed it past the goalie for his 10th of the season. Nelson also had an assist on the play.
Zidlicky made it 3-0 just 1:06 later as he backhanded a rebound of a shot by Cal Clutterbuck past Howard for his fourth goal of the season — his first since he scored twice against New Jersey on Dec. 13.
Nikolay Kulemin had a breakaway in the third period, but Howard stopped his shot with his blocker.
Datsyuk spoiled Greiss' shutout with 10:29 remaining, breaking a tie with Brendan Shanahan for seventh place on the Red Wings' career goals list with his 310th.
Strome restored New York's three-goal lead as he took a drop pass from John Tavares and fired the puck past Howard for his seventh goal.
Tavares had a chance about seven minutes into the first period as he stole the puck at the blue line, skated in and had his wrist shot deflected by Howard's blocker.
Riley Sheahan tried to jam the puck in from in close with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the first, but Greiss stuffed his attempt.
NOTES: Detroit began the day as one of 11 teams in the NHL with a winning road record, now at 14-9-3. This was the opener of a stretch of four straight and six of seven games away from home. ... The Red Wings, 25-5-5 when scoring first, fell to 4-14-4 when an opponent scores first. ... Detroit won the teams' first two meetings, 4-2 here on Jan. 25, and 5-1 at home on Feb. 6. ... Clutterbuck returned to New York's lineup after missing Saturday night's loss at Carolina due to an illness. ... The Islanders host NHL-best Washington on Thursday night before beginning a stretch of 12 of 14 on the road. ... Tavares has 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in his last 10 games.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
