Anthony Duclair’s Hat Trick Leads Islanders to Victory
In a stunning display of skill, Anthony Duclair made a triumphant return to the ice with a natural hat trick, leading the New York Islanders to a decisive 9-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday evening. This marked Duclair’s first hat trick in over six years, showcasing his talent after being sidelined as a healthy scratch for the previous two games.
Duclair’s Scoring Spree
Duclair’s scoring spree ignited from 4:01 into the first period and continued through to 3:29 of the second, as he netted three goals in succession, contributing two additional assists to achieve an impressive five-point performance. This was his fourth career hat trick; the last time he accomplished this feat was back on December 14, 2019, when he played for the Ottawa Senators.
Goaltender Performance
Impressively, goaltender Ilya Sorokin returned from a lower-body injury, exhibiting no signs of rust as he blocked all 45 shots directed at him. Sorokin’s stellar performance secured his place as the franchise record-holder for career shutouts, now boasting 26.
Devils’ Struggles
On the other hand, the Devils’ Jacob Markstrom struggled significantly, allowing goals on the initial two shots he faced from Mat Barzal and Duclair, ultimately conceding nine goals on just 24 shots in the match. Markstrom’s inefficiency compounded the Devils’ struggles as they faced their second consecutive defeat, extending their recent woes to six losses in their last eight games. This follows an earlier setback on home ice against Carolina, where young defenseman Luke Hughes notably scored two goals into his own net.
Islanders’ Recent Success
The Islanders, fresh off their recent victories, have now won five of their last seven games, putting pressure on the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes. Rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer, a top draft pick and leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors, continued to shine by assisting Barzal’s opening goal merely 62 seconds into the contest, despite managing his performance while ill.
Additional Contributions
Additional contributions to the Islanders’ scoring came from Simon Holmstrom, Casey Cizikas, Tony DeAngelo, and Cal Ritchie, rounding out an overwhelmingly successful night for New York.
Upcoming Matchups
As for the upcoming matchups, the Devils will head to Pittsburgh on Thursday, while the Islanders embark on a challenging seven-game road trip starting against Nashville the same night.
