The Associated Press
Allan Kreda
UNIONDALE, N.Y.–The New York Islanders relied heavily on Thomas Greiss last season, and their invariably calm netminder picked up right he where he left off.
Greiss made 35 saves and Josh Bailey, Brock Nelson and Anders Lee scored second-period goals to the lead the Islanders past the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 last night.
It was the first win of the season for the Islanders, who lost their home opener 2-1 to Washington on Friday.
“It’s always good to get the first win out of the way,” said the 33-year-old Geiss, who won 23 games last season with a career-best 2.27 goals against average while splitting time with Robin Lehner.
“The guys did their part and I did mine.”
The Jets lost for the second time in three games in the New York area to start their season. Winnipeg lost 6-4 to the Rangers in their season opener Thursday, and beat the New Jersey Devils 5-4 in a shootout Friday.
The Jets are opening the season on a four-game trip that wraps up Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
After a scoreless first period, Bailey put the Islanders on the board, tipping in a power-play goal at 1:51 of the second. Anthony Beauvillier and Devon Toews picked up assists.
It was the third straight game the Jets had allowed the opening goal.
Nelson made it 2-0 at 4:38, sending a shot past goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who started his second straight game and finished with 29 saves. Bailey and defenceman Ryan Pulock assisted on the goal.
Lee stretched the Islanders’ lead to 3-0 at 15:55 with his first goal of the season, assisted by Scott Mayfield and Jordan Eberle.
The game before a crowd of 9,923 was originally scheduled to be played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but was moved to Nassau Coliseum last month.
It was the first time in the building’s history–which dates to 1972–the Islanders played a Sunday night home game at the Coliseum.
They only twice had played Sunday afternoon games on Long Island.
Patrik Laine put the Jets on the board at 17:06 of the second, snapping a shot past Greiss for his first goal of the season. The Islanders were one of two teams the 21-year-old Laine hadn’t scored against. Columbus remains the other.
In other NHL action last night, Carolina nipped Tampa Bay 4-3 (OT) and Detroit beat Dallas 4-3.
