Game Recap: Islanders 7, Kings 2

Valtteri Filppula, Scott Mayfield and Casey Cizikas are supposed to be the grinders on the New York Islanders - the gritty, hard-working types expected to kill penalties and set a physical or defensive tone.
On Thursday night they were big-time producers for the Islanders, leading a 7-2 rout of the LA Kings at Staples Center, the Isles first win in La La Land since 2014.
Filppula (2G, 1A), Mayfield (3A) and Andrew Ladd (1G, 2A) led the way with three points each, while Cizikas (1G, 1A), Leo Komarov (1G, 1A) and Matt Martin all found the back of the net. Of the Islanders season-high seven goals, five of them came from forwards in the bottom six.

"When your top guys aren't scoring as much as you would like them to, you get contributions from up and down your lineup and that's what's been happening," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "Let's be a four-line team. I have to trust that everybody can play and the everybody can contribute. If we can do that, we'll be a hard team to play against."
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Islanders and marked the first win on their four-game western road trip.

ISLES SCORE FOUR IN THE THIRD PERIOD:

The 7-2 final betrayed how close Thursday's game was through 43 minutes. Jeff Carter's scored on a five-on-three to make it a 3-2 game at 2:54 of the third period with plenty of time left on the man advantage.
The Islanders had already given up two power-play goals in the game, but responded with a shorthanded tally. Ladd provided a nifty poke check around Drew Doughty and sprung a two-on-none rush that Filppula buried to make it 4-2 at 3:40 and swing the momentum back.

"You never want to start the third period off with a couple quick penalties," Ladd said. "To be able to quiet the crowd and get the excitement back on our bench was a big part of the win."
That was the turning point and the Isles offense launched from there. Martin made it 5-2 a minute after Filppula's shorthanded goal, finishing a hard-working shift from Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck. Leo Komarov scored his first as an Islander at 9:20, as a Filppula pass banked off him to make it 6-2 and end Jonathan Quick's night.
Ladd deflected a Mayfield wrister at 11:34, capping a span of four goals in just under eight minutes for the Isles.

CIZIKAS, FILPPULA CONTINUE TO SCORE:

The Islanders have a pair of surprise scoring leaders six games into the season.
Valtteri Filppula leads the Islanders with four goals the early part of the campaign, while Casey Cizikas is second with three.
Cizikas, who Barry Trotz affectionately called a "junkyard dog," found the back of the net for a second straight game since returning from a lower-body injury. Cizikas won an offensive zone draw and b-lined right to the net, sliding home a Scott Mayfield rebound for the icebreaker at 4:55 of the first.
Filppula's first of the night put the Islanders up 3-1, as he found time and space in the slot to finish a cross-ice feed from Komarov. Ladd started the play with some strong forechecking below the goal line, dislodging Doughty from the puck to feed Komarov.
"It's always nice to get a couple goals, but all our lines played really well tonight," Filppula said.

LEHNER LEAVES GAME:

Robin Lehner made 28 saves for the win on Thursday night, but left the game late in the third period after taking a shot up high.
Trotz did not have an update on his goaltender after the game. Thomas Greiss stopped all five shots he saw in relief.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

The Islanders power play went 1-for-3 on Thursday night, while the penalty kill went 2-for-4 with a shorthanded goal.

Josh Bailey scored the Islanders power-play marker, snapping a shot far side through a screen to put the Islanders up 2-1 early in the second period. Bailey's goal was his second goal (and power-play goal) of the season.
Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter scored power-play goals for the Kings.

ISLANDERS LINES:

Tweet from @NYIslanders: #Isles Lines: Lee-Nelson-BaileyLadd-Barzal-EberleBeauvillier-Filppula-KomarovMartin-Cizikas-ClutterbuckLeddy-PulockPelech-BoychukHickey-MayfieldLehner in goal

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders wrap up their California road trip - and season series with the Sharks - on Saturday night in San Jose. Puck drop is at 10:30 p.m. et.