Greiss, Islanders blank Devils 3-0

NEW YORK -- So much for all that talk about the New York Islanders' situation in goal.

Thomas Greiss and Robin Lehner have formed a pretty solid tandem so far.

Greiss made 35 saves for his first shutout of the season, and the Islanders beat the New Jersey Devils 3-0 on Saturday night for their fifth straight win.

"We feed off that," forward Josh Bailey said. "When he and Lehner are on, it adds so much confidence to our team."

It was Greiss' ninth career shutout. Dating to Oct. 28, Greiss has allowed just four goals on 114 shots.

"It's going well and everyone is happy and enjoying hockey right now," he said.

Jordan Eberle, Brock Nelson and Scott Mayfield scored for New York (8-4-1), which improved to 6-0-0 against the Metropolitan Division this season. Bailey had two assists to extend his point streak to eight games.

"When you get on these streaks as a team and individually you want to ride them for as long as you can," Bailey said. "But it's about staying even keel and not thinking too much about it, and preparing the same way you do every game."

Despite losing for the sixth time in seven games, the Devils (5-5-1) left Barclays Center feeling positive about their performance.

"There's plenty of season left," said Keith Kinkaid, who had 30 saves. "We're just going through a little (stretch). Everything is a learning curve.

"We have to keep sticking at it."

The Devils came up empty on two early power-play chances before the Islanders grabbed the lead on Eberle's power-play goal 7:43 into the game. With Jean-Sebastien Dea in the box for hooking Adam Pelech, Eberle tapped in Anders Lee's rebound for his fourth of the season, and third in New York's last three games.

"I had quite a few chances again," Eberle said. "So you want to try and maintain (the) things you're having success with."

New Jersey outshot New York 35-33 for the game, but the Islanders were 1 for 4 on the power play and killed all four man advantages for the Devils.

"We'd almost take that game than playing (poorly) and winning," New Jersey star Taylor Hall said. "Sometimes you have to go through (a stretch) during a season and find your game. Find an example of how you need to play night in and night out. And sometimes results are going to come, and sometimes you're going to play -- like I said (poorly) and win. Right now we'll take the way we played."

Neither team was able develop any traction offensively in a stop-and-start second period, with the best chance being Hall's semi-breakaway at 8:06 that Greiss knocked away.

"We didn't get any bounces," New Jersey coach John Hynes said.

The third was a mirror image of the second, although New York did generate seven shot attempts in a 52-second span after Lee forced a Hall turnover.

Nelson got his team-leading seventh goal of the season with 4:54 left. The sequence began with Nick Leddy blocking a Mirco Mueller shot, leading to a 2-on-1 with Nelson and Bailey.

Mayfield's empty-netter ended the scoring.

"I really liked our second and I really liked our third," New York coach Barry Trotz said. "I really like our mindset."

Game notes
Following New York's optional skate, Trotz said LW Matt Martin would miss the game with an upper-body injury. Martin was replaced in the lineup by Ross Johnston. ... The Islanders sent reserve goaltender Christopher Gibson to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. ... New Jersey put RW Stefan Noesen on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and activated RW Drew Stafford from IR. ... Devils LW Brett Seney made his NHL debut. The 157th pick in the 2015 draft was called up from the minors on Friday. ... New York D Johnny Boychuk played in his 600th NHL game.

UP NEXT

Devils: Visit Pittsburgh on Monday night.

Islanders: Host Montreal on Monday night.

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