Islanders take control in 4-1 win over Oilers
EDMONTON, Alberta -- The New York Islanders continued their hard playoff charge under coach Doug Weight on Tuesday night, beating the Oilers 4-1 at Rogers Place Arena.
The Islanders never trailed in the game, leading 1-0 after 20 minutes and 2-1 after 40. They pulled away in the third period to improve to 14-6-3 since Weight took over.
Anders Lee scored twice and Josh Ho-Sang and Andrew Ladd added goals for the Islanders, who wasted no time taking back the last Eastern Conference wild-card spot after the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of them earlier in the day.
It was an important stretch-drive game for both teams, with Edmonton starting the day two points up on Anaheim and Calgary for home ice in the first round of the playoffs.
New York took the early lead on a power play goal from Ho-Sang at 17:23. It was the rookie center's first NHL goal.
The Islanders maintained the one-goal lead after 40 minutes when winger Zack Kassian scored for the Oilers on a deflection at 2:58 and Lee replied with his 24th goal of the season at 9:45.
The Islanders, who are 23-0-5 when leading after two periods, expanded the margin to 3-1 at 7:04 of the third period when Ladd scored moments after an unsuccessful Oilers power play.
Lee added the dagger into an empty net.
NOTES: Oilers D Darnell Nurse played his 100th NHL game. ... Oilers LW Benoit Pouliot, who has been out three weeks with an undisclosed injury, is skating again and has been cleared for contact. He will be ready to play within a few days. ... Islanders interim coach Doug Weight spent almost nine seasons with the Oilers and is seventh on their career scoring list with 577 points in 588 games. ... Oilers D Kris Russell missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury. ... Islanders D Johnny Boychuk remains day to day with a foot injury. ... Islanders rookie Josh Ho-Sang scored his first NHL goal, in his fourth game, on a first period power play. ... New York LW Jason Chimera, selected in the fifth round by the Oilers in 1997, played his 1,016 NHL game. The other nine players selected by Edmonton in 1997 combined for 19 NHL games.