Patrick Roy, the coach of New York, stated, “We are currently in our building and we must perform at a higher level. We are all aware of this fact. Our team is composed of intelligent individuals who understand this. Our loyal fans deserve to see us play better than our recent performances.”
Ilya Sorokin stopped 26 shots for the Islanders (30-26-15), but despite his efforts, they have struggled in their last eight games with a record of 1-6-1.
The Devils took an early 1-0 lead in the second period when Meier scored just 38 seconds in. Hughes set up the play with a pass to Meier who quickly tapped it in at the right post during a power play with a two-player advantage.
The Islanders sit four points behind the Washington Capitals in their pursuit for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, the Devils trail the Capitals by a margin of five points.
Meier emphasized the significance of taking advantage of a power play and the opportunity to begin with a renewed perspective in a 5-on-3 situation. He praised Jack’s exceptional play, which energized their performance in the period, and their momentum continued from there.