Kesler propels Ducks past Islanders

ANAHEIM -- Ryan Kesler scored two goals to help the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-1 win against the New York Islanders at Honda Center on Wednesday.

WATCH: [All Islanders vs. Ducks highlights]
John Gibson made 34 saves and lost what would have been his second shutout of the season when Casey Cizikas scored with 34.8 seconds remaining. Adam Henrique and Hampus Lindholm scored for the Ducks (5-1-1).
Thomas Greiss made 21 saves for the Islanders (2-3-0).
Kesler scored his first of the game on a power play at 19:54 of the first period after Islanders center Brock Nelson was penalized for high sticking Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano at 19:35. Greiss made an initial save on Ducks forward Sam Steel's shot from inside the blue line, but Kesler beat Islanders defensemen Johnny Boychuk and Thomas Hickey to the rebound and backhanded the puck into the net.

The Islanders thought they tied the game at 6:24 of the second period when Mathew Barzal poked the puck across the goal line after Gibson covered it with his glove, but the NHL Situation Room concluded Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck interfered.
"That's a big momentum swing," Barzal said. "That happens. Just can't control it. Got to get back on the horse quickly."
Kesler then made it 2-0 at 8:20 of the second period on a long wrist shot that beat Greiss stick side.
It was Kesler's first multigoal game since his hat trick in a 4-3 shootout win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 1, 2017.
Kesler, 34, sat out the preseason and first three games to gain strength and conditioning after having hip surgery in June 2017. He has four points (three goals, one assist) in four games.
"I think I have a lot to improve on," Kesler said. "It's a long year, but it's a good start. I'm just trying to help my team win out there."
Henrique scored his third goal of the season 42 seconds into the third period. Ducks rookie forward Max Comtois drove to the net and Greiss made the initial save, but the puck caromed in the air and Henrique knocked it out of mid-air to make it 3-0.
The Islanders went on their final power play at 16:21 of the third period and pulled Greiss for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Gibson made four saves. He made 13 of his saves on the penalty kill.
"I thought our line had some good looks," Barzal said. "I thought everybody actually got involved. D-men were trying to get (shots) through, but just a couple inches on a couple goals, a couple plays and it's a different game. I don't think we are too worried with the way we played tonight. I liked our effort."
New York was 0-for-4 on the power play; Anaheim was 1-for-3.
"Historically, special teams have been a real determining factor early in the season more so than later in the season," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "If you can have an effective penalty kill, it gives you a chance to get points in every game. You can sometimes survive without an effective power play, but tonight we were able to find the back of the net and prevent the Islanders from scoring on their power play."

They said it

"I would take that game all year long on the road. I thought we played the right way. I think after two periods, they had three scoring chances 5-on-5. We were down 2-0. I give the guys credit; they stayed with it right to the end. We didn't have any passengers. We didn't get a save when we needed it unfortunately, but that's going to happen." -- Islanders coach Barry Trotz
"Lot of guys are banged up and a lot of guys are just coming back. It's impressive we can scrape out wins and get points. This was a better game, but it wasn't a good game by any means. I thought we turned over the puck way too much and let them generate." -- Ducks forward Ryan Kesler

Need to know

Boychuk had to be helped off the ice after blocking a shot by Ducks defenseman Marcus Pettersson in the second period, but he returned later in the period. … Cizikas returned after missing the 5-2 loss at the Nashville Predators on Saturday because of a lower-body injury. … Greiss was denied his 100th NHL win. … Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf missed his fifth straight game with a groin injury, but could be ready to play Saturday at the Vegas Golden Knights. "He was close for tonight, but we decided to take a few extra days," general manager Bob Murray said. "We don't need him re-injuring it." … Comtois has six points (two goals, four assists) in his first seven NHL games. … Lindholm has seven points (two goals, five assists) in an NHL career-high five-game point streak. … The Ducks signed forward Nick Ritchie to a three-year contract before the game.

What's next

Islanders: At the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Ducks: At the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, PRIME, NHL.TV)