NEW YORK — The New York Islanders, led by Brock Nelson with a goal and an assist, claimed a 3-2 victory against the NHL’s leading Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. This win was especially significant, marking the Islanders’ final game prior to the NHL trade deadline, as well as before embarking on a three-game road trip across the West Coast.
In addition to Nelson’s contributions, Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Pulock found their way onto the scoresheet. Ilya Sorokin was solid in goal, making 27 saves to secure the victory for the Islanders. On the Jets’ side, Josh Morrissey and Nikolaj Ehlers each scored, but it wasn’t enough to avoid their third consecutive defeat. Even Connor Hellebuyck’s efforts in net, with 26 saves, couldn’t change the outcome for the Jets.
Both Palmieri and Nelson netted their 20th goals of the season, providing the Islanders a crucial two-goal lead early on. Although Morrissey managed to close the gap with a power-play goal for Winnipeg, Pulock’s subsequent goal reinstated the Islanders’ two-goal margin at 4:03 of the final period. The game also featured Anthony Duclair’s return to the lineup for the Islanders after being a healthy scratch in the previous game against the New York Rangers.
The Jets’ recent form has raised concerns as all three of their latest losses came against teams not traditionally vying for playoff spots. Meanwhile, for the Islanders, the win might be a bittersweet send-off. Both Palmieri and Nelson are in the final year of their contracts and could potentially be traded before the deadline on Friday.
An emotionally charged moment in the game saw team captains Anders Lee and Adam Lowry attempting to rally their respective teams by engaging in a first-period fight. A notable statistic from the night emerged from Nelson’s performance. With his ninth 20-goal season for the Islanders, he joins an elite group of players within the franchise, including legends like Bryan Trottier, Brent Sutter, and Mike Bossy.
Looking ahead, the Jets are scheduled to play the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, while the Islanders will face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
