ST. PAUL, Minn. — Eric Staal had a goal and assist, Luke Kunin and Zack Mitchell each scored their first NHL goals, and the Wild beat the Islanders 6-4 on Thursday night.
Anthony Beauvillier, Nick Leddy, Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal scored for the Islanders, who had won three in a row. Thomas Greiss finished with 27 saves.
“The power play, just lethargic, lax, soft,” Islanders coach Doug Weight said. “Zero battle. Decisions, execution, little flip passes, half speed breakout, just really unacceptable.”
Staal scored short-handed to cap a three-goal first-period burst for Minnesota in 7:26. He later assisted on Kunin’s tally as the rookie became the first player in Wild history to score short-handed for his first NHL goal, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Islanders entered the game with the league’s worst power play at 7.1 percent this season and had allowed three short-handed goals in its first nine games. They were 0-for-5 on the power play against the Wild, in addition to allowing two more short-handed goals.
Greiss has allowed 17 goals on 166 shots in five games this season.
Wild forward Nino Niederreiter (left high ankle sprain) skated with the team during Thursday’s morning skate and could be looking at a return next week. He has missed five games with the injury. … Mitchell was recalled from Iowa of the AHL earlier in the day. … The Islanders are 2 for 33 on the power play this season (6.1 percent). … Minnesota tied its franchise record with two short-handed goals in a game, the third time it’s done so in franchise history. … Islanders forward Josh Bailey had three assists and leads the team with seven assists this season.