Mathew Barzal scored with 1:25 left in regulation Saturday night as the New York Islanders completed a perfect three-game road trip by edging the Utah Hockey Club 2-1 in Salt Lake City.
Barzal’s goal capped a flurry that began with Anders Lee sending a shot through the crease. Seconds later, Barzal deflected a shot by teammate Ryan Pulock before sending an off-balance shot toward the net. Utah goalie Connor Ingram couldn’t corral the puck. Lee tried jamming home the rebound before the puck squirted loose again and skittered to Barzal, who swooped in, went to one knee and beat Ingram.
Utah immediately pulled Ingram, but the Islanders blocked four shots and goalie Marcus Hogberg made one save to preserve the win.
Brock Nelson also scored for the Islanders, who have won three straight games for the first time this season. Hogberg made 21 saves.
Nick Schmaltz scored in the second for Utah, which has lost eight of its last 10 (2-6-2). Ingram recorded 30 saves in his first appearance since Nov. 18. The 27-year-old took a leave of absence prior to and following the death of his mother in December.
The Islanders outshot Utah 14-5 during a scoreless first before Schmaltz put the hosts ahead just 73 seconds into the middle period. Hogberg turned back a point-blank shot by Clayton Keller, who backhanded the rebound off the back boards. Logan Cooley collected the puck and passed to Michael Kesselring, whose shot from just in front of the blue line was redirected by Schmaltz in front of Hogberg and Ryan Pulock.
The Islanders tied the game early in the third. Lee and Barzal traded the puck in the left faceoff circle before Lee passed across the ice to Nelson, who fired a shot into the wide-open corner of the net as Ingram was stuck leaning to his left at the 3:36 mark.
The Islanders nearly took the lead while killing a penalty with 4:36 left, when Ingram turned back Bo Horvat’s point-blank shot.
–Field Level Media
