Massive first period powers Islanders past Canucks

VANCOUVER — Anders Lee and Casey Cizikas each had a goal and an assist and the New York Islanders returned from the all-star break with an offensive outburst Wednesday, beating the Canucks 6-3 in Vancouver.

Matt Martin, Matthew Barzal, Brock Nelson and Zach Parise — playing in his 1,100th NHL game — also scored for the Isles (17-17-6), and Cal Clutterbuck contributed a pair of assists.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Elias Petterson and Luke Schenn replied for the Canucks (21-21-6).

Vancouver goalie Jaroslav Halak was pulled midway through the first period after coughing up five goals on 12 shots. Thatcher Demko stopped 14-of-15 shots in relief.

Illya Sorokin registered 34 saves for New York, who were playing in their first game since Feb. 2.

The Canucks, coming off a 5-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday, were sluggish and sloppy to start the game and surrendered three goals before the game was four minutes old.

Vancouver rallied in the second and outshot the visitors 37-27 across the game, but couldn't dig itself out from the early hole.

Cizikas set up the final goal of the night 14:19 into the third, chasing down Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers deep in Vancouver territory and picking his pocket. The centreman pulled up just before the goal line and dished a pass to Martin at the top of the crease and Martin beat Demko cleanly with his second goal of the season to make it 6-3.

The Canucks started clawing their way back into the game in the middle frame, outshooting the visitors 12-6 across the period.

Schenn brought Vancouver within two at the 14:35 mark with blast from inside the blue line that squeaked through Sorokin's pads.

A minute and a half earlier, Pettersson made it 5-2, collecting a pass from Vasily