Islanders blitz Red Wings 7-2 in 4th straight victory

Emil Heineman recorded his first career two-goal game Thursday night for the surging New York Islanders, who authored their most resounding win since the 2023-24 season by routing the visiting Detroit Red Wings 7-2 in Elmont, N.Y.

Tony DeAngelo, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mathew Barzal and Simon Holmstrom also scored for the Islanders, who have won four straight following a season-opening three-game losing streak. The margin of victory was the largest for New York since a 6-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on March 10, 2024.

Goalie David Rittich made 29 saves.

Dylan Larkin and Jonathan Berggren scored for the Red Wings, who lost both ends of a road back-to-back following a five-game winning streak. Detroit fell to the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 on Wednesday night.

Cam Talbot recorded 23 saves Thursday.

The Islanders took a lead they'd never relinquish on their first shot, when DeAngelo took a cross-ice pass from Anders Lee and beat Talbot stick side 2:05 into the first.

A Red Wings turnover in the neutral zone led to Heineman's first goal with 5:04 left, when he capped a 2-on-1 by taking a feed from Bo Horvat and firing a shot past a sprawling Talbot.

Another Detroit turnover in the neutral zone resulted in Pageau sending a shot under Talbot's glove 7:25 into the second. Ryan Pulock's shot into the crease glanced off Palmieri's skate and trickled into the net with 6:51 remaining. Lee and Casey Cizikas forced defenseman Albert Johannson into the turnover that Barzal turned into a breakaway tally with 26 seconds left in the period,

Larkin scored a power-play goal 3:11 into the third to end Rittich's shutout bid, but the Islanders piled on when Heineman and Holmstrom scored within a 38-second span. Heineman beat Talbot from the edge of the right faceoff circle at 7:19 before Holmstrom put back the rebound of Lee's shot.

Berggren scored the Red Wings' second goal with 2:40 left.

--Field Level Media