The New York Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Thursday night. The Isles have won seven straight games and completed a perfect five-game homestand. One-thousand Northwell Health healthcare workers were in attendance for the game, which was the first home game with spectators since March 7, 2020.

Josh Bailey finished a great feed from Casey Cizikas, which put the Isles up 4-0 in the second period. That goal eventually would be the game-winner. The goal came only a few minutes after Noah Dobson’s third goal of the season.

Anders Lee collided with Pavel Zacha and was injured towards the end of the first period. He appeared to have trouble putting weight on his right leg and went to the dressing room. He did not return to the game.

Noah Dobson’s goal came in a very strange fashion. Dobson shot the puck on net and Oliver Wahlstrom was pushed into Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood by a Devils defenseman. Amidst the chaos in the crease, Damon Severson shot the puck into his own net. The Devils challenged for goaltender interference but the referees ruled it a good goal. Dobson was the last Islander player to touch the puck so he was credited with the goal.

Matt Martin opened the scoring in early in this game. Only 3:15 into the first period, Martin received the puck at the point and shot it on net. Blackwood was screened with many defenseman in the way and the puck slipped five-hole, putting the Islanders up 1-0. Adam Pelech put the Isles up 2-0 after Blackwood was knocked down in the crease. Pelech’s goal was a long-range shot from the point.

Despite the loss, Mackenzie Blackwood was phenomenal. Without him in net the Devils would probably have lost by much more. He made a few big saves including stopping a two-on-none late in the second period.

The Devils got on the board 3:23 into the third period as Janne Kuokkanen took a shot that floated over Ilya Sorokin and into the net. Forty seconds later, Mikhail Maltsev threw the puck on net and it snuck past Sorokin, putting the Devils back in the game and cutting the Islanders’ lead to 4-2.

Head coach Barry Trotz called a timeout after the two quick Devils goals. Shortly afterwards, Ryan Pulock fed Brock Nelson in front of the net, who tapped the puck into a virtually empty cage. The Islanders had a four-minute power-play in third period where they looked sloppy. It was finished off with a too many men on the ice penalty by the Isles. The Islanders power-play was scoreless on five attempts against the Devils’ league-worst penalty kill.

Jack Hughes scored his 6th goal of the season with 4:05 to go in the third to make the game 5-3.

The Islanders played a sloppy third period but were able to come out with the win. They take on the Devils again on Saturday, but this time at Prudential Center. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

John Smark