Takeaways: Islanders Bounce Back with 6-3 Win Over Pens

TAKEAWAYS:

– Cizikas recorded the sixth two-goal game of his career on Saturday night – and first since March 20, 2021 – netting the eventual winner and insurance tallies. Cizikas’ offensive outburst came after a mid-game adjustment, with Roy swapping Cizikas with Max Tsyplakov after the Russian winger took his second offensive zone penalty. Cizikas finished the game on a line with Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom.

Cizikas’ first came via deflection, redirecting an Alexander Romanov shot past Tristan Jarry at 9:39. His second sealed it, as he turned a Holmstrom clear into a clear-cut breakaway, beating Jarry glove side at 14:43.

“The way they see the ice and the way they can create opportunities, I’m just trying to play my game,” Cizikas said. “Just get up the ice as quick as I can and try to create a turnover, or get in the forecheck hard.”

Roy didn’t commit to whether Cizikas had earned a long-term look next to Horvat and Holmstrom, but praised his game.

– Duclair was a-number one on Saturday night, scoring a goal to extend his point streak to three games (1G, 2A).

Duclair netted a feed from Kyle Palmieri to make it 2-1 at 5:39 of the second period, which counted as his third of the season and first since returning from a lower-body injury that kept him out for 28 games.

Even prior to scoring, Duclair had an active game. The Islanders winger drew some ahhs from the UBS Arena crowd for his dipsy-doodle around Erik Karlsson in the first period, but it was also his bump on Jarry that negated Brock Nelson’s would-be icebreaker on the same shift. Duclair created another quality chance, feeding Palmieri for a backdoor feed later in the period that went just wide.

Roy said he was pleased with Duclair’s game and the chances the line created as a whole.