New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, NHL
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Islanders erased a 2-0 and 3-1 deficit to force overtime but eventually fell 5-4 to the Ducks and Lindholm’s hat trick.

  • New York Islanders 4 (18-13-4, 40 points)
  • Anaheim Ducks 5 (15-13-8, 38 points)
  • NYI Goals: Mathew Barzal (9), John Tavares (20, 21), Andrew Ladd (9)
  • ANA Goals: Hampus Lindholm (4, 5, 6), Ondrej Kase (8), Rickard Rakell (9)
  • NHL, Final, Box Score
  • Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

The Islanders will head into the Christmas break with point number 40 but came up short in their search for the second point.

The game started with the Islanders falling into a 2-0 deficit to the Ducks, with goals from Hampus Lindholm and Ondrej Kase. The Islanders were outshot in the first, but thanks to the powerplay started clawing back in the second period, and eventually dictated play from there climbing back to 3-3.

The Isles would take the lead on a Ladd goal late in the third, but would eventually allow the game-tying goal with 1:15 left in regulation.

Hampus Lindholm completed his first career hat trick to win the game for the Ducks.

It would be the Ducks second-ever hat trick against the Islanders, with the first one coming four years ago to the day by Ryan Getzlaf.

Recap

After the Ducks got off to a 2-0 lead after the first period, the Islanders would start up their comeback.

Bailey dishes over to Barzal, who makes no mistake in finding the back of the net.

The Islanders would fall short once more, falling down 3-1 after Lindholm potted his second of the game. Once again on the powerplay, it was Tavares who made good on cashing in on the loose change.

The Islanders would take a one-goal margin to the locker room, and to start the third period came flying.

The first showing wasn’t enough, so the duo of Bailey and Tavares came out for an encore, and this one would tie the game.

Josh Bailey now has 35 assists in 35 games and is on pace for a 100-plus point season after scoring 56 points in 82 games last season.

This one is hard to look back on given the result, but Andrew Ladd was able to give the Islanders the lead with under 10 minutes in the third period.

Rickard Rakell would tie the game with 1:15 left for the Ducks in the third, and we know the rest from there.

Takeaways

The Islanders are a frustrating defensive team, and it’s starting to really bite them in the behind.

Is it goaltending? Defense? All of the above? At this point, the goaltending stats are what they are, and whether that’s the fault of Jaroslav Halak or Thomas Greiss, or the defense is essentially being split between who you ask.

One thing is for sure: the Islanders have to figure out how to play without the puck. Mark Parrish said it best on the MSG+ post-game show:

“It’s not going to come from Bridgeport, it’s not going to come from the American League, it’s going to come from within.”

The Islanders need to figure this out, and they needed to do so 10 games ago. The Islanders have the Winnipeg Jets arriving on Saturday at 1 p.m., and after a brief Christmas break will play the Buffalo Sabres at home, then the Jets and Colorado Avalanche at their respective arenas.

After that, it’s 2018 and it’s time to get in gear. While it’s still incredible that the Islanders are still in a playoff spot with as polarizing as they’ve been, the time to get it together is right now.

The Islanders host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, with puck drop scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on MSG+.

Grew up a diehard Islanders and Mets fan based out of Northern New Jersey. Concluding my Broadcast Communications degree at William Paterson University. WP Sportsdesk member, Stan Fischler correspondent, music buff and total Star Wars freak. Follow my social media handles to learn more. Matt Di Giacomo is a Staff Writer for the Islanders on Elite Sports NY. He encourages team discussion. Tweet him @mdigiacESNY and check out his reviews on YouTube.