New York Islanders Pick up Massive Home Win, Beat Red Wings 5-4

(AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

It has felt like months since the Islanders last won a game on Coliseum ice.  In fact, it had been just over one calendar month.  Finally, the seven-game losing streak came to an end Sunday night when New York stormed back from a slow start to pull off a 5-4 win against a quality Detroit Red Wings team.

Islanders fans had barely gotten to their seats when Tomas Tatar hammered home a juggled puck and at just 39 seconds into the game, Detroit had a 1-0 lead.

New York fans had to be thinking here we go again when just over a minute later, Drew Miller chipped one that fell awkwardly over Halak’s head and over the line to give the Wings a 2-0 lead just under two minutes into the game.

Everything was going wrong again for Jack Capuono’s crew.

However, the Islanders got off the mat and quickly got back into the game.

On the power play, Brock Nelson found himself open in the high slot and wristed one past Jimmy Howard to bring the Isles within one at the 4:01 mark.

The Islanders would get even five minutes later when Ryan Strome powered home his own rebound after being set up by John Tavares and the Isles drew even at 2-2.

Just 52 seconds later, the Isles found themselves on the power play again and Kyle Okposo redirected Tavares’ low shot from the point past Howard and the Isles who were once down a pair of goals, saw themselves in the lead for the first time on the day.  Isles’ fans had to sit through a video review as the goal went in off of Okposo’s foot, but it was ruled that Okposo wasn’t purposely kicking at the puck so the much needed tally would stand for Okposo.

The Wings however, would not quit.  Nik Cronwall waltzed in from the point and fired home knotting the game at three apiece not 10 minutes into the action.

Early in the second period, the Islanders retook the lead when Frans Nielsen scored from the left wing on the power play.

Cal Clutterbuck got the Isles some breathing room when on the penalty kill. he stole the puck as the wings had trouble controlling it at the point, and broke in all alone to slip a fifth goal past Jimmy Howard who would be relieved shortly after by Petr Mrazek.

The power play was the difference on the day as the Isles went an amazing 3 of 4 while the Wings were 1 of 3 with a net of zero as they surrendered a short handed goal to Cal Clutterbuck.

Halak wasn’t great, but was good enough to earn the win.

With the win, New York remains tied for second with Pittsburgh, but the Penguins have played one less game.