Hey all, good to be back writing recaps! I spent the early part of the season in Tokyo, so the disastrous 0-3 start to the season happened in the early morning for me. It’s a weird experience to get notifications on Islanders goals while eating breakfast.
But like I said, good to be back, and even better to get to see Matthew Schaefer play hockey. That nifty little move he pulled bouncing the puck off the boards (twice!) to get out of the zone and create an odd-man rush is just another example of how
special he is as a player beyond the goals and points he’s putting up directly.
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The game did not start nicely for the Islanders, who really looked like a team that played last night as David Rittich had to turn away 9 shots just 6 minutes into the first period.
Adam Boqvist took a holding penalty, but that was negated around 15 seconds in by Adam Pelech, who drew a penalty, sending Logan Cooley to the box and giving us some 4 on 4 hockey. On that 4 on 4, Emil Heineman improved his Salt Lake City fortunes (last season, he was hit by a car here while on a scooter) and deflected a bouncing puck past Karel Vejmelka to make it 1-0 Islanders.
Then, it looked like Clayton Keller might have tied the game, but Rittich got a piece of the puck, deflecting it under the bar but not past the goal line, overturning an initial goal call on the ice. Not too long after that, though, the Mammoth would tie the game for real, as JJ Peterka deflected the puck in past Rittich.
The Islanders went to the power play after Utah had too many men on the ice, but they couldn’t convert. Then, Matthew Schaefer went to the box for interference, followed closely behind by Simon Holmstrom for putting the puck over the glass, giving Utah a nearly full two minute 5 on 3 power play, which Dylan Guenther converted on to make it 2-1 Utah.
In the second period, the Isles had some chances early, but couldn’t take advantage. Mathew Barzal had his shot saved on a 2 on 1, and Casey Cizikas missed the net while out in front of Vejmelka.
Barzal drew a penalty on Logan Cooley, and despite some good chances, the power play couldn’t convert.
Schaefer took a low hit and left the ice limping, and then left the bench briefly, but then returned seemingly okay.
Tony DeAngelo took a high sticking penalty, and the Isles killed it, but closed out the second period still down a goal.
In the third, Calum Ritchie took a tripping penalty, and Holmstrom had a shorthanded chance blocked. DeAngelo went to the box again shortly after, for hooking.
Schaefer blocked a shot and was with the trainer after, but did play his next shift.
After the back to back kills, Jack McBain went to the box for interference. Holmstrom had a great chance, but Vejmelka made the save, and ultimately the Mammoth killed the penalty.
Jonathan Drouin kicked the puck and it deflected off Nate Schmidt and into the net. Originally on the ice it was called a good goal, then no goal for the kick, and then it went under review, which deemed it a good goal. While the goal was under review, Tony DeAngelo picked up a 10 minute misconduct penalty.
Rittich made a great save on Mikhail Sergachev to keep the game tied late. Schaefer had a good chance but shot the puck wide, and Vejmelka stopped a Horvat wraparound, and so in back to back games, the Islanders picked up a point and headed to overtime.
In overtime, Barzal set up Schaefer for the overtime winner, a one-timer past Vejmelka.
Up Next
Next, the Islanders head to Colorado to take on the Avalanche on the 16th as the gauntlet road trip continues.
