Islanders start fast, stay hot with win against Red Wings

ELMONT, N.Y. --Brock Nelson scored twice for the New York Islanders in a 5-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings at UBS Arena on Thursday.

Nelson, who is one goal away from 30 for the first time in his NHL career, has scored 14 since Feb. 17, which is tied with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the most in the NHL.
"It'd be cool (to score 30)," Nelson said. "I've said before, you try to set goals every year. … I think 30's a pretty good benchmark. You obviously start at maybe 10, 20, whatever and work your way, but that'd be special. Hopefully I can get that and keep going and see what happens."
Ilya Sorokin made 37 saves, and Anders Lee had three assists for the Islanders (28-25-9), who have won four of their past five games and six straight at home. Anthony Beauvillier had a goal and an assist, and Mathew Barzal had two assists.

"I think with our playoff runs the last couple of years, I think once you develop just that winning mentality, I feel like you can really do anything," Barzal said. "We've rattled off 13-, 14-game [point] streaks before, so I think this group's going to fight until we're in or we're out.
"We've got fans at home to entertain and put on a good show, and I think we've always been a pretty good road team, so you never know, right?"
Pius Suter and Sam Gagner scored for the Red Wings (26-31-7), who have lost eight of 10 (2-7-1). Thomas Greiss allowed three goals on 16 shots before being replaced at the start of the third period because of an upper-body injury. Alex Nedeljkovic made eight saves.
It was Greiss' first game against the Islanders since he signed a two-year contract with the Red Wings on Oct. 10, 2020. He played five seasons for New York.
"We didn't start well and we didn't have enough offensive zone time until the second and third period," Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. "A team that likes to play at home like these guys do, you have to have a better start."
Beauvillier scored nine seconds into the game to make it 1-0, converting a one-timer from in front after Lee stole the puck from Filip Hronek.
It was the second-fastest goal to start a game in Islanders history; Bryan Trottier scored five seconds in against the Boston Bruins on March 22, 1984.
"We got a little bit of a break," Lee said. "I was able to just poke it, and 'Beau' finished it really well. It did happen quick. I don't know, we just set out to have a good start and kind of got a break to do it."
Oliver Wahlstrom made it 2-0 at 16:07 after Barzal stopped in the left face-off circle, spun and fed him for a wrist shot.
Sorokin made 13 saves in the first, including four during a 5-on-3 power play for Detroit late in the period.
"I thought [Zdeno Chara] was really important in that; he covered a lot of space with that stick and that body," New York coach Barry Trotz said. "To me, it was a tipping point. They get back in that game if they score one or two, or they put the kids to bed after that."

Nelson extended it to 3-0 at 11:39 of the second period with a wrist shot from the left circle on a power play, and Josh Bailey scored short side at 1:19 of the third period to make it 4-0.
Suter ended Sorokin's shutout bid at 13:25 on a redirection to make it 4-1, but Nelson scored his second of the game 42 seconds later to give the Islanders a 5-1 lead.
Gagner scored on a wrist shot from the left circle at 15:18 for the 5-2 final.
"We did a better job of getting to the cage in the third, but obviously it was too late," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said.
NOTES:Greiss was involved in a collision with Wahlstrom at 14:11 of the second but was able to finish the period before being removed. There was no further update. Wahlstrom was given a penalty for goalie interference on the play. … The Islanders announced earlier Thursday that forward Cal Clutterbuck needs shoulder surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, and defenseman Scott Mayfield is out 4-6 weeks because of a lower-body injury. … Lee has scored 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in his past 10 games. … Greiss was presented with a video tribute in the first period. He played for the Islanders from 2015-20 and in 2016 helped them win their first Stanley Cup Playoff series since 1993. … Red Wings forward Chase Pearson made his NHL debut after being recalled from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Thursday. The son of former NHL forward Scott Pearson, he had one shot, three hits and was plus-1 in 7:40 of ice time.