Well, that sucked. While the power play has been an issue for this team for a while, with multiple different coaches struggling to find a combination that works consistently on a team that’s struggled to find finishing talent, it still seems like something’s got to change with this current coaching staff.
1-for-7 against the very worst penalty killing team in the NHL is just unacceptable in a game that was this close through most of two periods. The Islanders had their chances and squandered them,
and even took lazy penalties of their own to counteract the one power play goal that Anthony Duclair scored. Sure, we’re missing Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri, but it’s not like the power play was great with them, anyway.
One goal just isn’t enough to win games, and there are too many guys like Jonathan Drouin (who hasn’t scored in TWENTY-EIGHT games) getting regular minutes with this team.
[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]
Anthony Duclair continued his hot streak early, making it 1-0 on the power play, assisted by Cal Ritchie (yet again) and Mat Barzal.
The Isles went on their second power play of the game shortly after, when Ryan Lindgren was called for tripping, and then got six seconds of 5 on 3 when Anders Lee was taken down in the slot.
Then, the Islanders were called for too many men on the ice, and 45 seconds later Simon Holmstrom took a tripping penalty, giving Seattle 1:15 of 5 on 3 time. Jared McCann put the puck off the post in a close call, and Matty Beniers deflected a Vince Dunn shot to tie the game for the Kraken.
It was all Seattle after that, until Berkley Catton took a hooking penalty. On that power play, the best chance came from Jonathan Drouin, who hit the post.
The second period gave us more even strength hockey, until Dunn made it 2-1 after 13 minutes.
After that, the Islanders got a power play for just eight seconds before Duclair was called for slashing. After 4 on 4, Kaapo Kakko scored right after the tiny Kraken power play expired. It looked like Seattle had iced the puck prior to the goal, but the Islanders didn’t get the call, and the Kraken took advantage.
The Isles got yet another power play as Ryan Winterton went to the box for slashing, but the power play continued to be ineffective against the league’s worst penalty killing team.
Early in the third, Anders Lee took a hooking penalty that the Isles killed. Shortly after that, Chandler Stephenson took a penalty, and the Islanders couldn’t convert on that, either, going 1 for 7 on the power play in the game.
With about 4 minutes left, Patrick Roy pulled Ilya Sorokin for the extra skater, and McCann scored into the empty net to make it 4-1, as the Islanders closed out this road trip with a 3-3-1 record.
Up Next
Next, the Islanders head home to UBS Arena to take on the suddenly-improved Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, January 24, at 1pm EST. Hopefully they can shake this off with a few days back home and playing in front of the home crowd.
