Islanders start strong, then hold on to defeat Ducks

Most elements the Islanders deem necessary for their success were all evident. The one that escaped them on Tuesday night at UBS Arena didn’t wind up costing them.

This time.

“Other than sticking the puck in the net, we probably couldn’t have done much more,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “We did let them hang around because of our lack of finish. That was the only issue I had with the game.”

Still, a 3-2 win over the Ducks pushed their unbeaten streak to 3-0-1 as the Islanders built upon a solid 1-0-1 Canadian road trip. It was their first match since losing top-line wing Matias Maccelli and second-line center Cal Ritchie to lower-body injuries in the first period of Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs.

The Islanders (5-3-1) got balanced scoring and a 1-for-4 power play that generated five shots as they won consecutive games for the first time this season. Their backcheck and forecheck were strong as was their wall play and ability to win puck battles, negating the Ducks’ team speed. Their younger, core players were productive. And they were able to rely on their defensive structure and Ilya Sorokin (15 saves) to hold an opponent to two goals or fewer for the seventh time in nine matches.

They improved to 5-0-1 when scoring first though they couldn’t extend their two-goal edge built in the first period. Alex Killorn’s six-on-five goal made it 3-2 at 17:20 of the third period.

“We did a pretty good job for the most part stifling their rush,” said Kyle MacLean, inserted onto the fourth line along with AHL call-up Mitchell Chaffee. “Maybe an extra goal there would have put them away and we had the chances. But that’s a tough game where you have the lead for that long. They’re going to make a push and you have to hold strong.”

“We made plays and had good confidence and that’s what you want,” said rookie Victor Eklund, who scored his second goal. “We’ve got a good group out there.”

It certainly seems DeBoer’s system is starting to take root.

“The last two games are probably our most complete, 60-minute games,” DeBoer said. “Some great efforts from some guys. Chaffee with a scrap [fighting A.J. Greer at 9:13 of the second period]. Some depth scoring. I thought the power play looked great even though we only got one. We deserved more.”

The Islanders established their dominance early against the Ducks (4-5-0), who got 22 saves from Lukas Dostal after losing 5-2 to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

DeBoer also slid Brayden Schenn from wing to center the second line and Simon Holmstrom was elevated to Bo Horvat’s top line with Kyle Palmieri.

Holmstrom, still just 25, tipped defenseman Matthew Schaefer’s shot from the blue line for a power-play goal to make it 3-1 at 18:44 of the first period. The power play has featured more puck and personnel movement around the offensive zone after DeBoer, who took over with four games remaining last season, said the unit had been too stagnant last season.

Holmstrom has four goals while Schaefer, 19, the unanimous winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie last season, has eight assists though he’s still trying for his first goal.

Ondrej Palat, a two-time Stanley Cup-champion with the Lightning, continued his resurgent play this season as he found space skating between the circles to convert Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s feed for a 1-0 lead at 13:39 of the first period. Against the Maple Leafs, the Islanders had a 19-1 edge in chances for skating in all situations with Palat on the ice according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

“Since the beginning of the season, I feel like our forecheck has been pretty good,” Palat said. “That’s something we take pride in and that’s how we’re going to beat teams like that.”

NaturalStatTrick.com calculated the Islanders out-chanced the Ducks 76-49 in all situations and had the edge in high-danger chances 23-10.

Eklund, 20, got to the crease to backhand in the rebound of Emil Heineman’s initial shot to make it 2-0 at 16:28 of the first period.

“It’s nice to score,” Eklund said. “I’m just always trying to get in front, get in the heat. It worked out this time.”

The Islanders next host the Kings on Thursday night. Playing in that 10th game — and there’s no reason he won’t — will ensure this season counts toward Eklund’s three-season, entry-level deal. The Islanders could have had had that first season slide if they re-assigned him to the AHL before the 10th game.

But Eklund has won DeBoer’s trust defensively and earned a top-six role.

Frank Vatrano’s backhander at the crease cut the Islanders’ lead to 2-1 at 17:18 of the first period but the Ducks have now lost four straight.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.