Recap: Islanders 4, Senators 2
The Islanders end their season with a six-game winning streak
by Cory Wright WrightsWay / New York Islanders
The New York Islanders ended a sour day on a positive note.
Less than 24 hours after being eliminated from postseason contention, the Islanders beat the Ottawa Senators 4-2, closing out the 2016-17 campaign with a six-game winning streak.
"We go out there every night to compete and play hard and we did that tonight," Anders Lee said. "It's nice to end on a good note."
Video: Thank you for being All for Islanders
Disappointment still hung in the air, as the Islanders missed out not he postseason by one point.
"We have a better team than not being in the playoffs," Interim Coach Doug Weight said. "I'm very proud with how we finished. I'm disappointed that we didn't get any help when we needed it, but I'm disappointed that we needed it."
Video: OTT@NYI: Ladd buries lucky deflection to open scoring
Andrew Ladd, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson and Jason Chimera all scored for the Islanders on Sunday, with the latter two Isles both reaching the 20-goal mark.
Ladd opened the scoring in the first period, cleaning up an Alan Quine rebound for his 23rd goal of the season. Lee capped his career-year with his 34th goal of the season, roofing a cross-ice pass from Josh Bailey, who picked up his 200th assist on the play. Nelson hit the 20-goal mark for a third straight season, wheeling down the wing, cutting to the net and backhanding his 20th through Mike Condon's five-hole.
Video: OTT@NYI: Nelson slides a backhand five-hole
Bobby Ryan made it 3-1 with 1:06 to play in the second period, while Jean-Gabriel Pageau made it 3-2 2:34 into the third. That was as close as the Senators came, as the Islanders rode out the rest of the third period.
Chimera scored his 20th of the year into an empty net, as the 37-year-old hit the 20-goal mark for the second straight season.
Video: OTT@NYI: Chimera scores 20th of season into empty net
Thomas Greiss made 32 saves in the win, as the Islanders goalie set personal bests in wins (26), games played (51) and shutouts (3) this season. Condon made 17 saves in the loss.
Still, being on the outside of the playoffs is only serving as motivation for the Islanders.
"It's not good enough, we expect to be a playoff team every year and we didn't get it done," Lee said. "All the guys in the locker room will have a sour taste in their mouths all summer. This feeling right now of being done isn't going to go away. We have a lot of work to do and come back together next year a better team."
ISLES GIVE JERSEYS OFF THEIR BACKS:
After the game, the Islanders gave the jerseys off their backs to fans. Fans had a chance to bid on the jerseys with all proceeds going to the Islanders Children's Foundation.
LEE WINS BOB NYSTROM AWARD:
Before the game, Anders Lee was named the 2016-17 winner of the Bob Nystrom Award, given to the Islanders who best embodies leadership, hustle and dedication.