The New York Islanders lost the most frustrating game of the season after the powerplay went 2/4 and they outshot Washington 38-19.
- Washington Capitals (6-6-1, 13 points) 4
- New York Islanders (7-5-1, 15 points) 3
- Box Score, NHL Final
- Capital One Center, Washington, D.C.
That was the best way to lose a game, and undoubtedly the most frustrating loss of the season.
The New York Islanders were a little slow to start, but came prepared to play tonight as they faced the Washington Capitals for the first time this season.
From the get-go, the first line came out swinging and produced seven of nine points scored tonight. Josh Bailey and Anders Lee continued their point streaks, extending them to eight and seven games respectively.
John Tavares got it going for the New York Islanders, with a powerplay goal that was scored just six seconds in. The Islanders’ powerplay which started the season at an abysmal 2/32 has now converted on six of their last 11 tries. Ryan Pulock is to be commended as well, who looks far more comfortable quarterbacking the Islanders’ top powerplay unit.
The Islanders ended up out-shooting the Capitals by a margin of 38-19, making the taste of this game even more bitter considering the response given from the Islanders after each Washington goal.
Looking Ahead
It’s a tough pill to swallow, no doubt. Perhaps if Jaroslav Halak hadn’t surrendered the go-ahead goal 12 seconds after Lee had netted his second, the third period would have had a different dynamic.
Mathew Barzal is quietly heating up after netting his eighth point of the season, and since netting his first against the L.A. Kings Barzal has scored in eight of nine games.
It certainly wasn’t the fault of the Islanders’ offense, which netted three goals and two powerplay goals against a more than competent goaltender in Braden Holtby, who made 35 saves to earn the win.
Anders Lee gave his thoughts, per Cory Wright of NHL.com:
“I think we did play well enough tonight, but were always battling back from behind a goal,” said Lee, who extended his career-high point streak to seven games with three points (2G, 1A). “We just have to find a way in the third period once we tie it up to survive the rest of the period.”
If that didn’t sting as much, check out this bit of information from Arthur Staple:
First game in my memory that Ovechkin/Backstrom/Kuznetsov were invisible vs. #Isles — 10 combined attempts. Makes loss hurt even more.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) November 3, 2017
Yep, the entirety of the Capitals’ top line, featuring arguably the most prolific goal-scorer this decade, was held off the scoresheet. Just to salt that wound a little more.
Regardless, it’s onto the next one. The Islanders will be at home on Sunday night to face the Colorado Avalanche at 6 p.m. on MSG+. While lineup changes aren’t even a forethought right now, expect to see Thomas Griess in net.
