Uniondale, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - The Anaheim Ducks clinched a playoff berth with a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday.
With 103 points, Anaheim now sets its sights on a Pacific Division title and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
Frederik Andersen made 29 saves to help the Ducks improve to 2-2-0 on their five-game road trip, and Rickard Rakell, Kyle Palmieri and Andrew Cogliano all tallied goals.
The Islanders lost for the seventh time in their last eight games and fell to 0-5-1 at home in March. Lubomir Visnovsky and Casey Cizikas scored New York's goals, and Michal Neuvirth allowed three goals on 24 shots.
"Adversity is a springboard for success, in my opinion," said Islanders coach Jack Capuano. "They're going to battle through this."
Holding a 2-1 lead past the midpoint of the second period, the Ducks had to kill an extended 5-on-3 opportunity for New York. In one sequence, Andersen had to quickly slide post-to-post to make stops, and he finished with three saves with his team short-handed.
Less than three minutes after Anaheim killed the 5-on-3, Cogliano scored the deciding goal. A stretch pass from Cam Fowler sent him into the Islanders' zone with speed, and he went to his backhand to beat Neuvirth to put the Ducks up 3-1.
"I thought our penalty kill was probably the difference," said Cogliano.
With 5 1/2 minutes remaining, New York got within one goal. Clayton Stoner backhanded the puck right in front of his own net, and Cizikas took the gift and shot the puck by Andersen. However, the Islanders could not generate the necessary pressure with the goalie pulled to even the game.
Before the midpoint of the first period, Rakell put Anaheim on the board. Neuvirth made the save on Rakell's first shot, but he then banked a centering pass from beneath the goal line off defenseman Nick Leddy's stick into the net.
After missing five games with a lower-body injury, Visnovsky returned for Islanders and was credited with the tying goal when his hard shot from the blueline ricocheted off defenseman Simon Despres' skate and into the net with 2:52 left in the first.
The Ducks retook the lead not even two minutes into the second period. Matt Beleskey pinched to shoot a puck toward the net. After being slowed up by an Islanders stick, Palmieri picked up the loose puck in the crease, spun and backhanded the puck by Neuvirth.
Game Notes
The teams split the two-game season series ... Anaheim won its 31st one-goal game of the season, extending its NHL record ... New York entered the game with a 13-0-1 record when allowing the first goal but scoring the second ... The Islanders have one more home game in March on Sunday against Detroit ... Anaheim did not have any power plays.
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