Islanders hold off Sabres to win season opener, 3-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Casey Cizikas scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, and the New York Islanders opened their season with a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.

Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist, Kyle Palmieri also scored, and Ilya Sorokin made 27 saves as the Islanders won their season opener at home for the first time since 1995.

Jordan Greenway and Casey Mittelstadt scored for the Sabres, who were coming off a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers in their season opener on Thursday night. Devon Levi finished with 23 saves.

Cizikas broke the tie with a brilliant redirection off Adam Pelech’s shot from the point with 6:20 left. The Sabres challenged the play, believing Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson entered the zone offside prior to the goal, but the score stood.

Mittelstadt tied the score at 2:34 of the third with his first goal of the season. The 24-year-old center got a loose puck in front of Sorokin and roofed a backhand.

Nelson opened the scoring 5:57 into the game when his wrist shot sailed past Levi’s glove. Pierre Engvall, who signed a seven-year extension with New York in the offseason, won a puck battle along the boards to set up the play.

Palmieri increased the Islanders’ lead to 2-0 when Nelson’s shot deflected off his leg and a Sabres defender with 1:42 left in the first period.

Buffalo got on the scoreboard as Greenway slid a backhanded shot into the net at 4:15 of the second period. Zach Benson, an 18-year-old rookie, recorded his first career assist on the play in his second NHL game.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

The Islanders held a period of silent contemplation prior to puck drop for the victims killed when Hamas militants attacked Israel last week, and all the civilians currently in danger. In addition, the jumbotron displayed the blue and white Israeli flag during the time of reflection.

UP NEXT

Sabres: Host Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.

Islanders: Host Arizona on Tuesday night.