Matthew Schaefer’s power-play goal late in the first period gave the Islanders the edge they never gave back, and New York rolled past the Kings 5-2 on Thursday night at crypto.com Arena.
The Islanders got a balanced night from up and down the lineup, with Ilya Sorokin turning aside 26 shots and several different skaters finding the scoresheet. Brayden Schenn set the tone early for New York, finishing at 5:50 of the first period off feeds from Mitchell Chaffee and Ryan Pulock. Los Angeles answered quickly when Trevor Moore tied it 1-1 at 8:55, but Schaefer’s goal at 12:56 - set up by Matias Maccelli and Schenn - put the Islanders back in front for good.
New York kept pushing in the second period. Victor Eklund extended the lead to 3-1 at 5:35, only for Quinton Byfield to cut it back to one on the power play at 7:52.
The Kings never got any closer. Simon Holmstrom restored a two-goal cushion just 39 seconds into the third period, and Bo Horvat sealed it into an empty net at 17:14.
Schenn finished with a goal and two assists, while Holmstrom added a goal and an assist. Pulock chipped in two assists, and Schaefer, Eklund and Horvat all scored for New York. Sorokin finished with 26 saves on 28 shots.
For the Kings, Moore and Byfield supplied the goals, and Darcy Kuemper stopped 16 of 20 shots. Los Angeles actually outshot New York 28-21, but the Islanders made more of their chances and went 1 for 3 on the power play. The Kings were also 1 for 3 with the extra skater.
The result moved New York to 8-6-4, good for ninth in the Eastern Conference. Los Angeles fell to 5-10-2, dropped its third straight, and sits 14th in the Western Conference.
The season series is even at 1-1 after the Kings took the first meeting 3-2 on Oct. 22.
The Islanders head to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10:00 p.m. ET.
The Kings return home to face the Calgary Flames on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10:00 p.m. ET.
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