Stutzle scores, Mandolese shines in debut as Senators edge Isles in SO

NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson each scored in the shootout and the Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Islanders 3-2.

Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk each recorded a goal and an assist in regulation. Kevin Mandolese finished with 46 saves and the Senators won their sixth game in seven outings.

Mandolese denied Bo Horvat's and Kyle Palmieri’s attempts and collected his first career win in his NHL debut.

“Right from the start we grinded and just stuck to our game the whole game,” Tkachuk said. “No matter what the situation is, if we play our game we are a tough team to maintain.”

Ryan Pulock and Brock Nelson scored for New York. Ilya Sorokin made 32 saves and the New York Islanders fell for the third consecutive game.

The Islanders squandered a power-play opportunity in overtime when the Senators were called for too many men on the ice.

“You got to try and be creative,” Noah Dobson said of the four-on-three power play in overtime. “You can’t just be stagnant, it’s easy for the killers and the goalie. We tried to move around and it obviously didn’t work tonight.”

Nelson fired a one-timer from the faceoff circle to the goaltender’s left to knot the game 2-2 at 7:13 of the third period. Dobson and Mathew Barzal assisted on the game-tying power-play goal. Nelson extended his point streak to a career-high 11 games.

Tkachuk broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal at 3:41 of the third period. Stutzle delivered a pass to the Senators captain near the top of the crease for the easy redirection past Sorokin.

Stutzle notched his 24th of the season and evened the game at 1-1. The 21-year-old German forward fired a wrist shot that deflected off Pulock’s stick and past Sorokin at 17:32 of the second period. The Senators took advantage of a neutral-zone turnover by Islanders defenceman Adam Pelech.

“I think we dominated the first period and then they were a little bit faster than us,” Stutzle said. “As soon as we started playing fast again, I think we dominated the game.”

Pulock gave the Islanders a 1-0 edge and opened the scoring when his shot whizzed past the blocker of Mandolese. Matt Martin fought off a check from Dylan Gambrell as he entered the offensive zone and set up Pulock for his third of the season.

“It’s disheartening when you put in an effort and can’t break through and put up enough numbers on the scoreboard,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. “At the same time, I thought there were some good things done tonight. We just have to move forward and get ready for the next game.”

Sorokin protected the Islanders’ one-goal advantage until Stutzle’s equalizer with two impressive stops on Tkachuk during an Ottawa power play midway through the second period.

Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau did not dress and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

LINEUP NOTES

Mandolese made his NHL debut. Ottawa’s starting goalie Anton Forsberg tore his MCL in both knees against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday and was carried off the ice on a stretcher. … Long Island native Shane Pinto played his first NHL game against the Islanders. The Senators selected Pinto in the second round of the 2019 NHL draft after the 22-year-old played for two seasons at the University of North Dakota. … Islanders centre Otto Koivula was recalled from the American Hockey League and made his season debut.

UP NEXT

Senators: Host Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

Islanders: Host Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.

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