Islanders defeat Ducks in home opener

NEW YORK - Josh Bailey's highlight-reel goal 54 seconds into overtime helped the New York Islanders to a 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Barclays Center on Sunday.
Brock Nelson and John Tavares had goals for the Islanders (1-2-0), who got their first win of the season. Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves.

Bailey, who was promoted to the top line in the third period of a 2-1 loss at the Washington Capitals on Saturday, worked his way into the Ducks zone, deked around forwards Corey Perry and Andrew Cogliano and beat goalie John Gibson with a forehand shot for his first goal of the season.
"Three-on-three, you've got to play with confidence and try and find a way to get it done," Bailey said.

Ryan Getzlaf sent the game to overtime when he scored with one minute remaining in the third period. Cam Fowler had a goal and Gibson made 27 saves for the Ducks, who are still seeking their first win of the season (0-2-1).
"Obviously we didn't get the end result we wanted, but we got away with a point there," Getzlaf said. "I was proud of the way our guys came back and played that second and third period."
Nelson scored his second goal in three games to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead 7:47 into the game. Shortly after New York failed to convert on a power play, Nelson collected Jason Chimera's pass in the slot, turned and beat Gibson with a forehand shot. It was Chimera's first point with the Islanders.
Tavares made it 2-0 with 12:01 remaining for his first point of the season. With the teams at even strength, Cal Clutterbuck's stick broke as he attempted to shoot from the slot, but he followed the play and managed to kick the puck to Tavares with his left skate, and the Islanders captain beat Gibson on the forehand.
"We stayed with it," Tavares said. "We obviously don't want to give up a lead, but you've got to win that way sometimes. It happens. Great goal by Josh."
But Fowler got the Ducks back within one less than a minute later when his wrist shot from the point squeaked between Halak's pads to make it 2-1. It was Fowler's second goal in three games.

Getzlaf tied the score with a minute remaining when he took a cross-ice feed from Sami Vatanen and let go a shot from the left circle that managed to beat Halak to the short side. It was Getzlaf's first goal of the season.
"It was important for us (to get a point)," Fowler said. "Obviously, we're off to a tough start. Things are going to be tough when you start with home openers on the road, and we knew we were up against it to begin with.
"But you take away the first period tonight, I thought we put together a really solid hockey game."

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Goal of the game

With the Islanders leading by a goal, Tavares fed Clutterbuck in the slot, but his stick broke as he tried to get off a shot. But Clutterbuck managed to kick the puck with his left skate to Tavares in the slot, and New York's captain beat Gibson on the forehand to make it 2-0 with 12:01 remaining.

Save of the game

With 5:25 remaining, Chimera was denied his first goal with the Islanders. Gibson got just enough of Chimera's shot off the right wing that when it trickled behind him, it hit the goal post. Gibson then quickly covered up the puck for a whistle, keeping the Ducks within a goal.

Highlight of the game

The Islanders' fan base is consistently asking for more from Bailey, and they got it with his overtime goal. He started at the Ducks blue line and made nifty moves around two forwards before slipping the puck past Gibson on the forehand.

Unsung moment of the game

With the Ducks on the power play in the second period, Vatanen appeared to have a golden opportunity to erase a one-goal deficit from the left circle. But Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk dropped to a knee in front of his net and managed to redirect Vatanen's wrist shot with the shaft of his stick, sending the puck out of play and preserving New York's 1-0 lead.

They said it

"First win's always big. It eases that pressure off a little bit, especially how the first two games went. We want to build off this. Obviously we started off 0-2, we'd love to even that up here on Tuesday. A big win's always a good feeling. We'll enjoy it tonight and look forward to Tuesday."- Islanders captain John Tavares
"If he plays with confidence and that work ethic that he has, he's a skilled player. He has the ability to play on that (top) line. It's something that we wanted to try going into tonight's game, and I thought they played well."- Islanders coach Jack Capuano on Josh Bailey
"We're talking about an 82-game season. We're three games in, and the doom and gloom starts already when you start 0-2. Anything you can build off of, and I thought our guys did a great job responding in the second and third period tonight."- Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf
"There was positive in it, and that's what we're going to try and build on because points have been hard to come by. We'll take it and get ourselves ready. We'll rest tomorrow and rebuild this group up for Tuesday in Jersey." - Ducks coach Randy Carlyle

Need to know

Islanders center Casey Cizikas left the game early in the third period. He blocked a slap shot from Fowler in the second period and hobbled back to the bench, but returned for his next shift. Capuano did not have an update on Cizikas' condition after the game. … Dating to the start of last season, the Islanders are 13-0-2 against Western Conference teams at Barclays Center. … Anaheim outshot New York 13-5 in the second period after the Islanders held a 16-3 advantage after the first. … Each team went 0-for-4 on the power play.

What's next

Ducks:At the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, PRIME, NHL TV)
Islanders: Home against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, CSN-CA, NHL TV)