Flames spoil opening of Islanders’ new arena with 5-2 win

The Islanders were without six players — captain Anders Lee, forwards Josh Bailey, Ross Johnston and Anthony Beauvillier, and defensemen Adam Pelech and Andy Greene — due to COVID-19 protocols. Defenseman Ryan Pulock is out for 4-6 weeks due to a lower body injury.

Nelson got his second of the night and team-high ninth of the season to pull the Islanders within a goal, 3-2, at 1:49 of the third period. Oliver Wahlstrom had the puck in the left corner and as he moved toward the net, Flames defenseman Tyler Pitlick knocked the puck away but it came to Nelson on the right side and he tapped it past Markstrom.

The Islanders pulled Varlamov for an extra skater with just under 2 minutes remaining, but Lewis scored an empty-netter with 1:15 left to seal Calgary’s win. Gaudreau added another empty-netter with 38 seconds to go for his seventh.

Mangiapane pushed Calgary’s lead to 3-1 with his second power-play goal of the night as he deflected Hanafin’s shot past Varlamov at 6:43 of the second. It was Mangiapane’s 14th of the season and seventh on the power play. He scored two goals for the second straight game, and has seven in the last seven games.

Richardson scored for the Flames 4:05 into the game, taking a turnover by the Islanders in their defensive zone. Matt Martin’s backward pass was picked up by Richardson, who skated in and beat Varlamov on the blocker side for his second.

It quieted the sellout crowd of 17,255 that had roared during pregame introductions that included Islanders greats Denis Potvin, Clark Gillies, John Tonelli, Butch Goring, Ken Morrow and Bob Nystrom.

Mangiapane made it 2-0 with 6:32 left as he deflected Noah Hanafin’s point shot in the left circle past Varlamov.

With the Islanders on their fourth power play of the opening period, Nelson got them on the scoreboard with their first goal in the new building with 22.8 seconds left. He immediately raised his hands to celebrate, but officials told them to play on.

When time ran out, the play was reviewed and the officials determined the puck hit the camera in the back of the net and came back out, giving Nelson his eighth of the season.

It was New York’s fifth power-play goal of the season. The Islanders were 0 for 12 on the power play over their previous six games.

BEEN A LONG TIME

The Islanders and Flames met for the first time since Feb. 19, 2019 — 999 days ago. The Islanders were in Calgary when the season was paused due to the coronavirus pandemic. The game on March 12, 2020, was the first game canceled for both teams. The NHL had a shortened, division-only schedule last season to cut down on travel.

DEBUTS

Right wing Richard Panik and center Andy Andreoff made their Islanders debuts, and defensemen Grant Hutton and Robin Salo made their NHL debuts after all four were called up from Bridgeport of the AHL. Panik, acquired in the deal that sent Nick Leddy to Detroit, had 88 goals and 106 assists in 517 career games. Andreoff had 13 goals and 12 assists in 179 career games.

UP NEXT

Flames: At Boston on Sunday night to wrap up a seven-game trip.

Islanders: Host Toronto on Sunday night.

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Follow Vin Cherwoo at http://www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAP

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Vin A. Cherwoo, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Flames spoil opening of Islanders’ new arena with 5-2 win

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