Islanders pull the plug on Red Wings' power play
Red Wings center Michael Rasmussen and Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov play the puck in front of the net during the second period of an NHL game Thursday in Detroit. Credit: AP/Carlos Osorio
DETROIT — The Red Wings’ power play is ranked ninth in the NHL and had gone 5-for-16 (31.3%) in their six-game winning streak.
The Islanders’ penalty kill is last in the 32-team NHL.
Yet the Islanders killed off both of the Red Wings’ chances Thursday, limiting the potent unit to four shots. It was a big factor in their 5-3 win at Little Caesars Arena.
“It was really good,” goalie Ilya Sorokin said. “The guys did a really good job and played the system correct.”
The Red Wings’ first chance came when defenseman Ryan Pulock was called for a high stick at 7:41 of the first period and the score still 0-0.
The second came when key penalty-killer Cal Clutterbuck was whistled for hooking at 17:41 of the first period and the Islanders up 2-0.
“We’re just trying to move forward and continue to get better every day,” Clutterbuck said. “Unfortunately, I got to watch that one from the box, but the guys did a great job, and when they managed to make a couple of good plays, Ilya was right there.
“There are moments when pressure is appropriate and there’s moments when it’s not. It’s been a lot of the work in the video room to identify those moments.”
Isles files
Defenseman Ryan Pulock had five of the Islanders’ 21 blocked shots . . . Right wing Oliver Wahlstrom remained the healthy scratch . . . Forward Hudson Fasching (long-term injured reserve/lower body) ended his conditioning stint with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport with a goal in three games . . . Defenseman Samuel Bolduc remains with Bridgeport on a conditioning assignment and also has a goal in three games . . . Defenseman Scott Mayfield (lower body) missed his third game, and the team issued no update on his status . . . Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (LTIR/ankle), out since Jan. 4, still has yet to resume skating.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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