Islanders, Greiss nearly shut out Sabres in win
NEW YORK -- Goalie Thomas Greiss carried a shutout into the 58th minute Friday night and five different New York Islanders scored in a 5-1 rout of the Buffalo Sabres at Barclays Center.
Anthony Beauvillier scored in the first period, Ryan Strome and John Tavares scored in the second and Andrew Ladd and Calvin De Haan added insurance goals in the third for the Islanders (13-14-6), who won their second in a row and ensured they would not enter the holiday break alone in the Eastern Conference basement.
The Islanders' co-tenants are the Sabres (12-13-8), who avoided being shut out when Zemgus Girgensons scored with 1:03 left in the game. Greiss, who made 28 saves, was seeking the fifth shutout of his career.
Buffalo has lost four straight (0-2-2) to fall into a tie with New York for the fewest points in the conference. Goalie Anders Nilsson made 27 saves.
The Islanders went ahead in unusual fashion 12:05 into the first period when Travis Hamonic's slap shot was redirected by Beauvillier, who reached out almost accidentally with his stick. The puck then fluttered by Anders Nilsson.
A second effort by Strome doubled the Islanders' lead with 5:24 left in the second. Strome's shot from the faceoff circle was knocked down by Nilsson, but the puck squirted behind the netminder into the goalmouth before Strome surged past Nilsson and defenseman Zach Bogosian and tucked the puck into the net.
Another odd goal -- this one of the power play variety -- extended the Islanders' lead to 3-0 with 38.5 seconds left. Tavares' wraparound attempt was initially kicked by Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges. Tavares briefly got his stick on the puck, which then ticked off the skates of Buffalo center Derek Grant and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and through the legs of Nilsson.
NOTES: The Islanders scratched C Casey Cizikas (upper body), who missed his fourth straight game, as well as G Jean-Francois Berube and RW Stephen Gionta, the latter of whom was signed to a two-way deal on Wednesday and recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. ... The Sabres scratched D Cody Franson, who missed his second straight game with an undisclosed injury, as well as LW Nicholas Deslauriers. ... Sabres RW Kyle Okposo, who spent his first nine NHL seasons with the Islanders before signing with Buffalo in July, received a warm ovation during a video tribute that aired in the first period. ... Both teams resume play Tuesday, when the Islanders host the Washington Capitals and the Sabres visit the Detroit Red Wings.