By J.J. Pavlick | Bad Dawg Sports | November 13, 2026
LOS ANGELES — The New York Islanders needed more than another encouraging stretch of hockey. They needed a finish. After four consecutive games without a victory, New York found one Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 5–2 behind Brayden Schenn’s three-point performance, contributions from returning defenseman Ryan Pulock, and a timely third-period response.
Schenn Sets the Tone, Schaefer Answers the Kings
Schenn opened the scoring at 5:50 of the first period, finishing a play set up by Mitchell Chaffee and Pulock. The Kings answered at 8:55 when Trevor Moore redirected a shot, with Brandt Clarke and Erik Haula credited with assists. New York did not let the equalizer stand for long. After Quinton Byfield was called for hooking at 12:33, Matthew Schaefer converted on the power play just 23 seconds later, assisted by Matias Maccelli and Schenn. The Islanders took a 2–1 advantage into intermission.
That power-play conversion was significant for a club seeking reliable offense beyond its leading forwards. Maccelli’s return added another puck-moving option, while Schaefer once again showed his ability to make a difference from the blue line.
Eklund Extends the Lead Before the Kings Respond
Victor Eklund pushed New York’s advantage to 3–1 at 5:35 of the second period, with Schenn and Pulock supplying the assists. The goal gave Schenn his third point of the evening and Pulock his second assist. Los Angeles responded at 7:52 when Byfield scored on the power play from Artemi Panarin and Kevin Fiala, reducing the deficit to 3–2.
The middle period therefore became a test of whether the Islanders could protect a narrow lead against a team capable of generating sustained pressure. The Kings had a chance to turn the game, but New York entered the final period still ahead.
Holmstrom Delivers the Critical Insurance Goal
Only 39 seconds into the third period, Simon Holmstrom scored an unassisted goal to restore New York’s two-goal cushion. The timing mattered: instead of allowing Los Angeles to build on its second-period power-play goal, the Islanders immediately forced the Kings to chase the game again.
Bo Horvat completed the scoring at 17:14 with an empty-net goal, assisted by Holmstrom. New York’s final two goals transformed a tense one-goal contest into a convincing result, even though the game had been much closer through 40 minutes.
Special Teams and Returning Personnel Matter
Each team scored once on the power play. Schaefer’s first-period conversion restored the Islanders’ lead after Moore had tied the game, while Byfield’s second-period goal kept the Kings within reach. New York’s response at even strength ultimately proved decisive.
Pulock’s two-assist return strengthened the defense corps and gave New York another dependable outlet in transition. Maccelli also contributed immediately with an assist on Schaefer’s goal. Those contributions were especially important with the Islanders managing absences elsewhere in the lineup, including Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mathew Barzal.
Bad Dawg Sports Analysis: The Win Is Necessary, but Consistency Is the Test
The Islanders should take confidence from winning a road game in which their offense received contributions from several different lines and the blue line. Schenn gave New York a reliable offensive presence, Schaefer delivered on special teams, Eklund continued to make himself dangerous, and Holmstrom supplied perhaps the most important momentum-changing goal of the night.
There is still work to do. The Kings’ second-period power-play goal showed that the Islanders can lose control of a game quickly when penalties and defensive breakdowns give opponents an opening. New York cannot depend on an unusually efficient finishing night to compensate for long stretches without sustained offensive-zone pressure. The club needs cleaner exits, disciplined defensive coverage, and repeated quality possessions rather than occasional scoring bursts.
Still, this was a meaningful response. The Islanders did not collapse when Los Angeles cut the margin to one. They scored early in the third, managed the advantage, and finished the job. Ending a losing streak is one accomplishment; turning this result into a sustained run is the next challenge.
What’s Next
New York continues its California trip against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, November 14. The Islanders will look to build on Thursday’s victory rather than allow it to become an isolated result.
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