Jaroslav Halak put a terrible previous start behind him to get the beginning of the Islanders’ longest road trip off to a good one.
The goalie made 27 saves in a 1-0 win over the Devils at Prudential Center in Newark on Friday night. The last time Halak was between the pipes, he allowed six goals in a loss to the Hurricanes on Feb. 13 and eventually was pulled for surging backup Thomas Greiss.
He gave up three goals or more in four of his last five games, but the Devils couldn’t get anything past him on this night.
“There is nothing you can do about the past,” Halak said. “Obviously the game in Carolina wasn’t the greatest by me or anybody. But that happens. It’s obviously how you react. The next game I rebound.”
Halak had three stops in the span of a minute midway through the first period and made a tough stick save on an Adam Henrique slap shot with 11:10 to play in the second. He turned back two more shots in the closing minutes of the game with the Devils scrambling.
Islanders coach Jack Capuano said Halak needed a strong performance to break the goalie’s own frustration.
“It’s a big win for our team, but also for him to give him a little confidence that he needs right now,” Capuano said.
The victory gives his club momentum in the first game of seven away from Barclays Center. The stretch will be key to the Islanders’ playoff chances.
Beating the Devils moved the Islanders within three points of the Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils (29-23-7), who have lost two straight, remain a point behind Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay for the final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference and four back of the Islanders.
“This game, it gives us a little bit of room,” Halak said.
An early goal by Casey Cizikas was the only one needed to improve their position. Devils goalie Cory Schneider made a pad save of a Nick Leddy shot from the left wing, but Cizikas knocked in the rebound off his pant leg to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead just 1:59 in the first period. The score was upheld on replay.
“I didn’t try to kick it or anything like that,” Cizikas said. “I was just trying to go hard to the net.”
While Halak kept the Devils at bay, the Islanders (31-19-7) survived an injury scare with 5:00 to play in the second period. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk left the ice slumped over in pain and holding his arm after being crosschecked by Devils winger Jordin Tootoo behind the Islanders’ goal. Boychuk already has missed five weeks this season with an upper body injury, but this time he returned to action early in the third.
“Fortunately he didn’t reinjure anything, any previous injury,” Capuano said.
Tootoo was given a 5:00 major penalty and game misconduct, but the Islanders failed to take advantage. They were 0-4 on the power play. Schneider finished with 23 saves for New Jersey, not enough to outduel Halak.
“Not playing two games in a row, it gets you thinking,” Halak said. “I’m glad I got this one down and we won it.”