Frustrated New York Islanders lose eighth straight
The Anaheim Ducks could only muster 14 shots on the New York Islanders, but it was just enough as one of those 14 got through for the game's only goal as the Ducks won 1-0 on Wednesday 10, November.
How it happened
The Ducks were outshot and outplayed in every period, and managed but a single shot in the game's opening 20 minutes.
Curtis McElhinney was solid in goal for the Ducks in place of regular starter Jonas Hiller, as he stopped all 27 shots that he faced for his first career NHL shutout.
Dwayne Roloson wasn't tested very often in this contest facing only 14 shots. One in particular, a hard, well-aimed slap shot by Saku Koivu in the third period was enough to see off the Islanders and get
the Ducks the win.
What they're saying
Despite playing some solid hockey and generating far more chances than their opponents, the New York Islanders once again came up short and have now lost eight games in a row.
"It's frustrating, obviously," Isles coach Scott Gordon said to reporters after the game. "We had a great scoring chance right before they scored, we don't cash in on it and they came
back and their player made a pretty good shot.
"Like I told our guys, unfortunately, we can't score right now. We had 27 shots on net, we had another 36 that were blocked or missed the net. Sometimes that's an indication that you're trying too hard, looking
for the perfect opportunity. The defensive effort we've had the last two games has been great. Eventually the offensive side is going to change for us as long as we continue to play with the kind of effort we had tonight."
The Ducks are heading in the complete opposite direction of the Islanders in notching their fifth win in a row, including two tough wins on back-to-back nights.
"It’s never easy to play back-to-backs, especially when the other team had a couple of days off," Koivu, the game's lone goal scorer, said. "They were fresh and were coming hard at us in the first period.
You were able to tell that we didn’t have the jump that we usually have. When you have a tough schedule, with a lot of games and travel, you’re going to have nights where you’re not going to feel your best. Good teams find ways to win these games. We did tonight."
The Islanders now have the unenviable task of playing games on back-to-back nights as they take on the Sharks in San Jose on Thursday, 11 November.
The Ducks now get set to host the Dallas Stars on Friday night.
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