Islanders defeat Devils in shootout, hand Schneider 19th straight loss

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New York Islanders handed Cory Schneider his 19th straight loss, defeating the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in the shootout at Prudential Center on Thursday.

Schneider hasn't won an NHL game since Dec. 27, 2017 (0-16-3) and is 0-5-2 in 10 games this season. He missed 17 games with an abdominal strain and played five games in a conditioning stint with Binghamton of the American Hockey League before being recalled Sunday.
"It's nice to feel good and play well but it's just one game," Schneider said. "It's all about moving forward. Like I said this week, I want to stay in the moment and not say I had one good game, it's going to happen automatically. You have to keep at it and keep digging and working.
WATCH: [All Islanders vs. Devils highlights]
"Hopefully I can get on a roll and get into a rhythm like I have done here in my career and kind of re-establish my game."
Josh Bailey scored in the fourth round of the shootout for the Islanders (31-16-6), who are 7-1-2 in their past 10 games.
"I was just trying to watch the other guys shoot and be ready if I got a chance, and I think up until I made the last move I really didn't have a plan," Bailey said. "I just wanted to see what he would give me and I was able to catch him."
Bailey, who is 3-for-8 in shootouts this season, skated wide into the right face-off circle before cutting to the middle and beating Schneider over his blocker inside the left post for the only goal of the tiebreaker.
"[Schneider] was a wall for them," Bailey said. "We had some great looks and I had some Grade A's I wish I would have put home, but he had a great game, no question. Nonetheless, we're happy we came out on the positive end of it."
Mathew Barzal scored, and Thomas Greiss made 30 saves for the Islanders, who swept the four-game series against the Devils for the first time since 2014-15. New York is 15-4-1 in its past 20 games against New Jersey.

"I just take it one by one in the shootout and try my best," said Greiss, who won all three starts against the Devils this season. "It's kind of nice to know [tendencies of shooters] but kind of bad too because then you expect to see something five-foot out and then he does something else, so that gets you in trouble."
Kevin Rooney scored for the Devils (20-25-8), who lost for the third time in the past four games (1-2-1). Schneider, making his first start since Dec. 14, 2018, made 27 saves.

Barzal pulled the Islanders into a 1-1 tie 13:42 into the first period when he took a lead pass from Ryan Pulock on a breakaway at the Devils blue line nine seconds after serving a roughing penalty and scored off his backhand.
"We want to score a little bit more but at the same time everyone is tightening up," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "We've had some great goaltending battles. I mean, look at the games in the last little while and the goalies have been great. Our goalies have been good, the opposing goalie has been good. This time of the year everyone ramps it up to a different level and you've got to find ways to score because teams are a little more committed and they're staying in there."
Rooney scored off a wrist shot from the left circle to give the Devils a 1-0 lead 5:32 into the first. Forward Kurtis Gabriel had an assist, his first point with the Devils.

They said it

"Both (Greiss and Robin Lehner) give us a chance to win every game. I think going into the game it already gives you an edge even before the puck drops having that confidence in your goaltender, and tonight was no different. [Greiss] was there when we needed him most and he made some key saves, some timely saves and difficult saves. He was the first star for us, for sure." -- Islanders forward Josh Bailey
"I'm really happy for [Schneider]. He has gone through some adversity this year. It's been a long road for him with the way he has worked through it and the commitment he's made to get his game back and get himself physically and mentally ready to play. It's nice to see a player get rewarded for that type of effort and commitment to our team. He certainly played a really good game and that's really good for him and that's a good sign for our team." -- Devils coach John Hynes

Need to know

Barzal has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past 12 games. ... Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck sustained an undisclosed injury 5:50 into the second period. ... Devils forward Miles Wood sustained an upper-body injury 11:37 into the second period. There was no update on either injury. … Devils defenseman Ben Lovejoy played 15:49 after missing six games with an upper-body injury.

What's next

Islanders:Host the Colorado Avalanche at Barclays Center on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; MSG+, ALT, NHL.TV)
Devils: Host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; MSG, FS-N, FS-WI, NHL.TV)