3 Takeaways: Islanders Win Bruising Battle with Devils

The New York Islanders were undermanned on Friday night, but that didn't stop them from outgunning the New Jersey Devils in a bloody and bruising 6-4 win at Prudential Center.
Playing without Adam Pelech, and later Anthony Beauvillier, the Islanders cooled off the red-hot Devils, handing the division-leading Devs their second regulation loss in the past 21 games.

Brock Nelson (2G), Anders Lee, Casey Cizikas, Oliver Wahlstrom and Cal Clutterbuck (1G, 1A) accounted for the goals, while Mathew Barzal and Alexander Romanov each had a pair of assists. Semyon Varlamov stopped 25 of 29 shots in the win.
"It's a big win," Nelson said. "It's been some time since we played them and we didn't have our best effort in that game and they blew us out at home. We wanted to come out and play a strong game and kind of get them back and take two points."

Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, Tomas Tatar and Jack Hughes scored for the Devils, who made things interesting with a pair of third period goals after the Islanders went up 6-2. Vitek Vanecek stopped 13 of 17 shots before being pulled in the second period, while Akira Schmid stopped 13 of 15 in relief.
It was a hard-fought game between the division rivals, as evidenced by the blood on Clutterbuck's face, the result of a shot up high in the first period, and a cut on Nelson's cheek.
"I thought we did a pretty good job for the most part of staying over top of them," Clutterbuck said. "Playing six on five for the last eight and a half minutes can wear on you, especially when we're down a guy. So we were thin most of the night and just did a good job of hanging tough."

Video: NYI@NJD: Nelson gets a wraparound goal in the 1st

NELSON EXTENDS STREAK:

Brock Nelson extended his point streak to seven games with a pair of goals on Friday night. The Islanders center tied the game 1-1 at 15:37 of the first period, coming in with speed and freezing Vitek Vanecek with a fake shot before quickly circling the net to deposit a wraparound.
Nelson nearly had another to end the period, but his backhand try was gloved down in a desperation save from Vanecek, though he eventually got his second with a power-play goal to put the Islanders up 5-2 towards the end of the second.
Beyond the goals, it was another complete game for Nelson, who finished the night with eight shots on goal and 11 shot attempts (second only to Lee's 10 shots and 16 attempts). Nelson also had a pair of takeaways, tying him with Mathew Barzal for the team lead with 25.
Nelson's seven-game point streak (5G, 3A) matches Mathew Barzal for the longest on the team this season.
"I feel good," Nelson said of his recent play. "Just trying to get out there and make an impact on both sides [of the puck]. Offensively for sure on the power play I'm trying to take advantage of some more shots and more opportunities. Five on five we're just trying to generate as a line. I thought we did a pretty good job of that and had some good looks."

ROMANOV LEAVES MARK ON GAME:

Alexander Romanov left a mark on Friday night's game.
ISLANDERS 6, DEVILS 4
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Full Highlights
Postgame: Lambert
Postgame: Clutterbuck
Postgame: Nelson
Postgame: Parise
Postgame: Varlamov
KINGER'S CALLS
Nelson's Wraparound
Lee Scores From Range
Cizikas' First of the Year
Wahlstrom Nets Rebound
Nelson's PPG
Clutterbuck's Tally
He left one on the scoresheet, dishing out a pair of assists - his first two-point game of the season - on the Islanders first two goals.
Romanov also left a physical imprint on the game, railroading Miles Wood in the second period with a clean and hard hit on another player who plays a physical game.
"That was as close to Scott Stevens classic as I've seen in New Jersey," Clutterbuck, the NHL's all-time hits leader, said of Romanov's check. "That was as clean as can be and a great hit."
When Romanov connects, he hits hard and Friday was just the latest check in what's been a season full of impact collisions for the defenseman. The 22-year-old finished the game with three hits, upping his season total to 76, tops among Islanders defensemen.
Romanov also stepped up in Pelech's absence, playing a season-high 24:45 - a number that would have been higher had he not sat in the penalty box for five minutes after a fight with Michael McLeod in response to the hit.
"He's been steady," Clutterbuck said. "I like how aggressive he is. Sometimes maybe a little bit too much, but he's a young kid and I just love his get up and go and his sort of gamesmanship. He's a gamer."

BEAUVILLIER LEAVES GAME, CLUTTERBUCK GOES FULL CAGE:

The Islanders injury woes continued on Friday night.
Anthony Beauvillier left the game after a hard collision into the end boards in the first period. Beauvillier was charging towards the net and was hit by New Jersey's John Marino before crashing into the wall. Beauvillier took another shift, but left the game shortly after. Head Coach Lane Lambert did not have an update on Beauvillier after the game.
The Islanders had another scare, as Clutterbuck briefly left Friday's contest in the first period, but returned for the second period outfitted in a full cage. Underneath the cage, Clutterbuck was sporting a cut on the bridge of his nose was dripping blood out of his nose in the postgame interviews.
Clutterbuck had a goal and an assist after returning, leading the rush that led to Casey Cizikas one-timing a Matt Martin feed for his first goal of the season. Clutterbuck also scored his third goal of the season a minute into the third period.
"It was great," Lambert said of Clutterbuck battling through. "He's one of our leaders coming back the way he did and playing the way meant a lot to the guys."

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders are back in action on Saturday night, as they host the Carolina Hurricanes at UBS Arena. The Islanders will debut their new Reverse Retro jerseys, featuring the Fisherman logo. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.