Game Recap: Islanders 4, Sharks 0

Robin Lehner made 35 saves for his first win and shutout with the New York Islanders on Monday, as the Isles blanked the San Jose Sharks 4-0 at Barclays Center.
The Islanders rode their hot goalie, as well as a gritty defensive effort, to their second win of the season. Anders Lee, Scott Mayfield, Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas scored for the Isles.
"Talk about a team win," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "I think you had everyone in the right place. We had some skill guys score on the power play. You had your penalty killers and guys defending with commitment at the end and Robin was making good saves. It was a team win. We do everything as a team and I thought everyone contributed through the lineup."
BOXSCORE | POSTGAME VIDEO

LEHNER GETS SHUTOUT IN ISLES DEBUT:
It only took one game, but Robin Lehner put himself in the New York Islanders history books.
Lehner became the first Islanders goalie to post a shutout in his debut, turning aside all 35 shots he faced as he was tested early and often by the high-octane Sharks.
"Robin was really solid," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "I was really happy for him, he's made such a big commitment in so many areas of his life and he's changing his game with [Goalie Coach] Piero [Greco] and I was happy for him and I think guys were too."
Lehner was admittedly nervous before his first start of the season, but was forced into the game early, seeing 11 first period shots from the Sharks. Lehner was especially good on a first period penalty kill, turning aside a pair of Tomas Hertl shots from the slot.

The Islanders goalie held the fort down the stretch, stopping 16 shots in the third period to preserve the Isles lead and seal the shutout - the Isles first against the Sharks since 2003.
"Today he stood tall when he needed to. He was calm, tight and he was moving. He wasn't reaching for stuff. He looked big," Trotz said. "I know their shooters were seeing a wall."
The win had personal significance to Lehner, who was playing his first regular season game since detailing his struggles with alcohol and his bipolar diagnosis in The Athletic. Lehner said he wanted to start a new chapter in his personal and professional life after getting sober and joining the Islanders - and a shutout was a pretty good way to kick it off.
"I try to just move forward here, but it's obviously a little bit special," Lehner said. "I felt real good to be back in the game again doing what I love, perfectly healthy, feeling better than I ever did. It's the start of a new chapter with a new team and a new city and I'm, looking forward to it."

PENALTY KILL STAYS PERFECT:
With Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson stalking the point on the Sharks power play, the Islanders penalty kill was put to the test on Monday.
The result: a perfect 4-for-4 - improving the Isles to 8-for-8 this season.
The Isles showed some guts on the penalty kill, especially on the first period when a broken stick had the shorthanded unit killing a de facto five-on-three. Ryan Pulock, who's stick snapped in two on the aforementioned kill, said the Isles success on the PK has been a momentum driver early this season.
"We've been working on the kill," said Pulock, who finished the game with three blocked shots. "Guys are laying their bodies on the line, getting in lanes and doing the little things. That's what you need to do to be successful and at the same time our goalie has made those saves when we've needed them."
Cizikas scored the Islanders first shorthanded goal of the season on Monday, icing the game with an empty-netter.

POWER PLAY SCORES IN THIRD STRAIGHT:
The Islanders power play scored for the third straight game on Monday.
The goal came in similar fashion to the power-play tally on Saturday, as Mathew Barzal fed Josh Bailey for a one-timer with Anders Lee finishing it off in tight. The power-play goal, at 14:34 of the second, held up as the eventual winner and opened the floodgates for the Isles.

KUHNHACKL, MAYFIELD MAKE SEASON DEBUTS:
Scott Mayfield got on the board in his season debut, as his wrist shot deflected off Rourke Chartier and past Martin Jones to put the Isles up 2-0 at 5:16 of the third period.
Mayfield's goal was helped in large part by Cal Clutterbuck, who caused a turnover with a big hit on Marcus Sorensen, and provided a screen on Jones and the traffic that led to the redirection. Mayfield finished the night with a goal, three hits and three blocks playing with Thomas Hickey.
Tom Kuhnhackl made his Islanders debut on Monday, skating 11:42 with a shot, a hit and two blocks. Kuhnhackl nearly had his first goal as an Islander, ringing a shot off the post in the first period off a quick give-and-go with Adam Pelech.

FILPPULA EXTENDS POINT STREAK:
Valtteri Filppula may have been brought to Long Island for his face-off ability and work on the PK, but the savvy veteran has provides some offense as well, as he's recorded a point in three straight games.
Filppula picked up an assist on Monday, stripping the puck from Erik Karlsson in the corner and setting up Matt Martin alone in the slot for Martin's first of the season. Filppula has two goals and an assist in three games this season.
"His most important contribution to the team is experience," Trotz said of Filppula. "His experience in so many areas. Power play, penalty kill, he's played wing, forward, so he's got a lot of knowledge that will be untapped by some of the younger guys."
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NEXT GAME:
The Islanders are off for four days before beginning a four-game Western Conference road trip on Saturday night in Nashville. It'll be the Islanders second meeting against the Predators in a week.