National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
NY Islanders 4, San Jose 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, October 16, 2014
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
Referees: Paul Devorski, Rob Martell
Linesmen: David Brisebois, Andy McElman
Attendance: 11248

Islanders 4, Sharks 3 (SO): Captain John Tavares recorded two assists in regulation and scored deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout as New York defeated visiting San Jose to remain unbeaten.

Kyle Okposo collected a goal and an assist while Josh Bailey and defenseman Nick Leddy also scored for the Islanders. Tavares made a nifty deke to score in the bonus format and Jaroslav Halak (20 saves) stopped Joe Thornton to clinch it for New York, which is off to a 4-0-0 start for the third time in club history.

Defenseman Brent Burns registered a goal and an assist while Thornton set up two scores for the Sharks, who extended their season-opening point streak to four games (3-0-1). Patrick Marleau and Tomas Hertl also tallied while Alex Stalock turned aside 42 shots for San Jose, which received a shootout goal from Logan Couture in the first round before Okposo tied it in the third.

San Jose was outshot 14-3 in the first period before Burns snapped a scoreless tie 1:39 into the second, beating Halak from the left faceoff circle with a one-timer off a cross-ice pass by Joe Pavelski. Leddy tied it 2:26 later with his second goal in as many games on a rising shot from the top of the right circle.

The teams traded power-play goals as Marleau’s screen shot from the left point gave the Sharks the lead 9:14 into the second session and Okposo tallied from the slot 5:57 into the third. Bailey knocked in a loose puck 2:41 later, but Hertl got behind the Islanders’ defense to score with 8:44 left in regulation.

GAME NOTEBOOK: New York C Mikhail Grabovski suffered an upper-body injury on a hard hit from San Jose LW John Scott in the first period and did not return. … Sharks D Mirco Mueller registered his first NHL point with an assist on Burns’ goal. … The Islanders activated Calvin de Haan, who logged 18:38 of ice time Thursday, from injured reserve and sent fellow D Griffin Reinhart to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League.
Top Game Performances
 
San Jose   NY Islanders
Brent Burns 2 Points Nick Leddy 2
Brent Burns 1 Goals Nick Leddy 1
Joe Thornton 2 Assists John Tavares 2
Patrick Marleau 1 Power Play Goals Kyle Okposo 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Alex Stalock .933 Save Percentage Jaroslav Halak .870
Alex Stalock 42 Saves Jaroslav Halak 20
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
San Jose 23 3 1-1 1-2 4 38
NY Islanders 45 4 1-2 0-1 2 35
Upcoming Games
  • NY Islanders will play their next game on the road against Pittsburgh. The Islanders have a W/L % of 1.000 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.
  • San Jose will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Sharks have a W/L % of .667 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.