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Islanders’ injury-necessitated defense shuffle is no problem in win over Blackhawks

The New York Islanders turned a defensive necessity into a winning formula Thursday night, securing a 4-1 victory over the struggling Chicago Blackhawks despite key absences. With Alexander Romanov out and Connor Bedard also missing, the Islanders adjusted their defensive pairings effectively, with Logan Stanley and Matthew Schaefer forming a new unit, Scott Mayfield replacing Tony DeAngelo, and the Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock duo reuniting for the first time since November.

Coach Pete DeBoer praised the effort, highlighting strong performances from Mayfield, DeAngelo, Pulock, and Stanley, while Ilya Sorokin’s solid goaltending helped lock down the win. The Blackhawks, now 1-4-0 in their rebuild, managed only one goal as the Islanders controlled play, particularly in the neutral zone, where their defensive structure stifled Chicago’s offense.

Bo Horvat opened the scoring on a power play, and Pelech’s breakout led to two quick goals by Emil Heineman and Anthony Duclair, extending the lead to 3-0 before halftime. The Islanders’ ability to limit opportunities and capitalize on defensive transitions proved decisive in a game that lacked flash but delivered results.

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