Islanders Vs. Sabres: Grabner’s Hat Trick Beats Stafford’s Hat Trick As Isles Win

If you thought Friday’s emotional 9-3 win was all the Islanders had in them in terms of scoring, you clearly aren’t a big Michael Grabner fan. The rookie potted a hat trick for New York, including a game-winning overtime goal, as the Islanders won their third straight game.

Lighthouse Hockey thinks Grabner, who was a waiver wire pick-up after being shunned by the Florida Panthers earlier this season, has boosted himself into consideration for the Calder Trophy.

Wow, just Wow. Michael Grabner is forcing his way into Calder consideration. He is on a 5 game goal scoring streak, during which he’s scored 9 goals. In the last 3 games he’s scored 7 goals. In the last 5 games he has 11 points. It’s getting to the point that when you see Grabner toasting the other teams defenders you’re surprised if he doesn’t score.

Drew Stafford also had a hat trick in the game for the Sabres, so Grabner certainly picked a good time to explode, didn’t he? Al Montoya made his Islanders debut in relief of Mikko Koskinen, and while he didn’t necessarily look good, he did earn the win on 12 saves.

Happening elsewhere in the NHL...

Columbus 2, Dallas 1: If only the Blue Jackets could play every game on the road. Their win over the Stars on Sunday was their fifth straight away from Nationwide Arena, part of a stretch where they’ve done 5-0-2 in their last seven on the road. Matt Calvert and Rick Nash countered Brad Richards’ first period goal and overcame Kari Lehtonen’s 37 saves to five Columbus the victory.

Carolina 3, Atlanta 2: The seesaw at the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff picture continued Sunday, and with their victory of division rival Atlanta, the Carolina Hurricanes currently occupy the eighth and final spot. Erik Cole broke a 2-2 tie late in the third period to give the Hurricanes the victory on the road at Philips Arena.

Florida 3, San Jose 2: The Panthers haven’t been able to win close games all year long, but on Sunday they were able to pull one out against a team they don’t often see in their neck of the woods. Jason Garrison scored the game-winner with just 2:01 remaining to boost Florida to the victory.

Anaheim 4, Edmonton 0: Teemu Selanne scored just 34 seconds into the game, Brandon MacMillan added a second-period tally and Bobby Ryan scored two later in the game as the Ducks blanked the Oilers behind 12 saves from Jonas Hiller. Yes, 12 saves. That’s all Hiller needed for the shutout. 12 saves.