National Hockey League
NY Islanders 5, Buffalo 2
When: 12:00 PM ET, Sunday, March 7, 2021
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
Referees: T.J. Luxmore, Tim Peel
Linesmen: Matt MacPherson, Kory Nagy
Attendance: N/A

Anders Lee and Brock Nelson scored 62 seconds apart to fuel a three-goal second period Sunday afternoon for the host New York Islanders, who completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Buffalo Sabres by earning a 5-2 win in Uniondale, N.Y.

Nelson finished with two goals for the Islanders, who also beat the Sabres 5-2 in Uniondale on Thursday night and Saturday afternoon. Casey Cizikas scored later in the second and Cal Clutterbuck added a goal in the third.

Goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves, as New York won for the seventh time in eight games (7-0-1) and improved to 12-2-2 since Feb. 1.

Jeff Skinner and Colin Miller scored in the third period for the reeling Sabres, who have dropped seven in a row (0-6-1) and are 2-10-1 since returning from a coronavirus pause Feb. 15. Goaltender Jonas Johansson recorded 25 saves.

The Islanders snapped the scoreless tie seconds after a power play expired. Jordan Eberle passed into the crease to Lee, whose shot sailed under the leg of Johansson at the 5:13 mark.

The Islanders doubled the lead following an end-to-end rush. Nelson got free in the slot, took a pass from Nick Leddy and fired a shot past Johansson.

An impressive assist by Jean-Gabriel Pageau set up Cizikas' goal with 3:04 left. Pageau shook Jack Eichel and threaded a pass through the crease and beyond Miller and Rasmus Dahlin to Cizikas, who tucked his shot over Johansson's glove.

Skinner scored his first goal in more than a year 5:41 into the third. He initially missed a chance to put back a shot by Curtis Lazar but controlled the puck, skated around the net and nudged the wraparound under Sorokin's stick arm for his first goal since Feb. 29, 2020.

Miller pulled the Sabres within one by firing a shot under Sorokin's glove at 9:35, but Clutterbuck scored with 7:03 remaining and Nelson added an empty netter with 2:12 left.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   NY Islanders
Colin Miller 1 Points Brock Nelson 2
Colin Miller 1 Goals Brock Nelson 2
Jack Eichel 1 Assists Noah Dobson 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jonas Johansson .862 Save Percentage Ilya Sorokin .923
Jonas Johansson 25 Saves Ilya Sorokin 24
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 26 2 0-1 2-2 4 23
NY Islanders 30 5 0-2 1-1 2 30
Upcoming Games
  • NY Islanders will play their next game at home against Boston. The Islanders have a W/L % of .643 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Philadelphia. The Sabres have a W/L % of .167 after a win and .312 after a loss.