DENVER, Col. – Brock Nelson took advantage of the Colorado Avalanche’s defensive generosity to score a double 2:49 apart in the second period, guiding the New York Islanders to a 6-2 victory on Monday at Ball Arena.
Patrick Roy therefore tasted success upon his return to Denver, a little more than eight years after he left the organization by resigning as an instructor.
The New Yorkers, who could count on their No. 1 goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin for the first time this campaign, had not experienced victory in their first two outings of the calendar (0-1-1).
Fairly damaged to start the season, the Avalanche lost for the third time in regulation time (0-3-0).
The 2022 Stanley Cup champions have allowed no less than 20 goals to their rivals during these first three games.
After giving in to rookie Calum Ritchie, author of his first goal in the NHL, in the 61st second of play, Sorokin demonstrated that he had lost none of his composure, multiplying the saves in order to preserve the lead of the Isles in the third period.
The visitors took control of the matchup, scoring twice before the first intermission, courtesy of captain Anders Lee and another veteran, Kyle Palmieri.
The priority was increased to three goals when Nelson scored two quick goals on the eve of his 34th birthday.
No. 29 of the Islanders notably took advantage of a sluggish play from Cale Makar at his defensive blue line, while the Avalanche played with a man advantage.
Nelson escaped after correctly guessing Makar’s intentions, before serving Alexander Georgiev with a precise wrist shot.
Georgiev is one of several members of Jared Bednar’s squad who is not playing up to his abilities thus far.
Before this poor performance, the Russian goalkeeper from Colorado had given up 5 times out of 21 shots in the curtain-raiser, before faltering 3 times out of 12 shots in his next presence in front of the cage.
Makar, like the Avalanche’s two other star players, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, was minus-3 in the loss.
Anthony Duclair scored his second goal in three games with his new club, while Mathew Barzal completed the scoring in an abandoned net for the Long Island representatives.
