EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers definitely hadn’t forgotten an embarrassing 8-1 loss to the New York Islanders earlier in the month.
Leon Draisaitl scored the game winner as the Oilers struck for three third-period goals in a 3-1 win over the Islanders on Sunday.
“It feels pretty good to get this win, especially against a team that embarrassed us the last time we played them,” said Oilers goalie Cam Talbot, who made 36 saves in his seventh consecutive start. “We had some redemption to take care of and we went out there and accomplished that tonight.”
Anton Lander and Brandon Davidson also scored for the Oilers (23-34-7), who snapped a seven-game slide with the win.
“It’s really nice to come back in a game, score a few goals late, and see some other guys scoring other than the top two lines,” Draisaitl said. “It was a solid effort all around.”
Casey Cizikas scored for the Islanders (33-20-7), who had won the previous three games of a season-high seven-game road trip.
“When you only have a one-goal lead anything can happen and we had our chances, they just capitalized on theirs,” said Islanders captain John Tavares. “They had a few more chances than we did, we just didn’t score.”
The Islanders had a great chance to score midway through the second after a scoreless first period, but Talbot came up with a big toe save on Josh Bailey.
New York finally broke the deadlock with 2:17 left in the middle frame, as a puck hit defender Adam Clendening up high and fell in front to Cizikas, who scored his seventh of the season.
Edmonton tied the game midway through the third when Lander was able to score his first goal of the season, sending a shot off of goaltender Jaroslav Halak and in. Lander had not scored since March 16, 2015.
“I wish people could be in my head and see all the things I have been trying,” he said. “It’s been really tough. I don’t want anyone to go through that. Your family and your friends are asking you what is wrong with you because you aren’t the same guy. It was especially hard because the team has been losing.”
Just 55 seconds later, Edmonton made it 2-1 as Draisaitl was able to get to a loose puck lying in the crease and score his 16th of the season.
The Oilers got an insurance goal with three minutes left to play as Davidson blasted a shot from the top of the circle for his fourth of the year.
Halak finished the night with 23 saves.
Both teams return to the ice on Tuesday. The Oilers head to Buffalo to face the Sabres and the Islanders remain on the road, heading to Vancouver to take on the Canucks.