This one suuuucks.
Brady Tkachuk’s goal with 11 seconds left was a gut punch, but the Islanders squandered two leads, going up in the second period thanks to Matthew Schaefer, and then again early in the third thanks to Brayden Schenn. But Schenn’s goal was the ONLY SHOT ON GOAL FOR THE ISLANDERS IN THE THIRD PERIOD.
Let me repeat that: Brayden Schenn’s goal was the only shot on goal for the Islanders in the third period.
The Senators were on a back to back but came out with a dominant third period,
and got rewarded with two points. And since the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings won their games, the loss knocked the Islanders out of a playoff spot.
Bad vibes all around, especially for all the yapping about setting the tone early with two fights.
[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]
First Period
As I just mentioned, there were two fights early, with Anders Lee and Brady Tkachuk dropping the gloves right off the opening faceoff. Shortly after, Brayden Schenn took on Ridley Greig and Greig did his best to hang on against a much bigger guy like Schenn.
And then Dylan Cozens took a roughing penalty after taking off Matthew Schaefer’s helmet, but the Islanders couldn’t convert on the man advantage.
Ilya Sorokin was strong this period, and made a notable save on a wraparound attempt, but Carson Soucy earned what could have been the save of the game, stopping a sure goal with his skate.
Soon after, though, he took a tripping penalty, and Ottawa closed out the period on a power play that the Islanders killed the last 11 seconds of into the second period.
Second Period
Nick Cousins took a delay of game penalty for flipping the puck over the glass after a strong shift from the Islanders’ top line.
That power play pretty terrible, since the best chance came shorthanded from Tim Stützle, who just couldn’t find the finish.
Less than a minute after the power play, Matthew Schaefer, playing despite some doubts this morning (apparently he might be nursing a cold or something like that) gave the Islanders the lead, picking up his 50th point of the season. Phil Housley, pretty good defenseman, is the only other 18 year old defenseman with at least 50 points in an NHL season. So, you know, just Matthew Schaefer doing Matthew Schaefer things.
Anthony Duclair blocked a shot with his knee and was down on the ice and needed to be helped off. He didn’t return for the rest of the period.
Artem Zub went to the box for cross checking Mat Barzal, and Shane Pinto would tie the game for the Senators shorthanded, while the Islanders did nothing with the power play.
Bo Horvat took a holding penalty that the Islanders killed, and then Lars Eller was called for tripping Simon Holmström, but the power play, which completely sucked tonight, continued to be terrible. The Senators’ penalty kill is ranked 30th in the league, but the Isles’ power play is also 30th, so I guess it really was an even match of mediocrity.
Adam Pelech had to hold off Stützle and Kyle MacLean stopped a follow up Jordan Spence shot to keep the game tied at 1, and Brady Tkachuk put the puck off the outside of the net in the dying seconds of the second period.
Third Period
Brayden Schenn scored just two minutes into the third, giving the Islanders a 2-1 lead that should’ve given them some momentum in a must-win game.
Instead, Ilya Sorokin became the MVP of the period, making a big save on Tkachuk after Cal Ritchie and Adam Pelech couldn’t clear the puck, and another save on a dangerous redirect from Cozens.
Then, Warren Foegele tied it, after the puck hit off multiple players, including Sorokin’s arm, bouncing directly to Foegele after that initial save.
Duclair came back almost halfway through the third and looked fine, blocking a shot with his stick.
Matt Amadio missed wide with a tip in chance, and Sorokin made a huge save on a 2 on 1 (another save of the game candidate in a better game), helped by Ryan Pulock and Bo Horvat who helped clear it out of the crease.
Ultimately, with 11 seconds left Tkachuk picked off a loose puck in the crease after Pelech got crosschecked in front of Sorokin and scored to give the Senators the 3-2 lead and win.
That goal keeps the Senators’ playoff hopes alive, just barely, and puts the Islanders in an uphill battle for a playoff spot.
Just an extremely frustrating end to a high-pressure game, and it felt like the Islanders barely matched the intensity of a team playing the second half of a back to back. Just a gut punch of a loss.
Up Next
Next, the New York Islanders close out this Canadian road trip against the Montreal Canadiens, who lost to Detroit tonight, which is what pushed the Isles out of the wild card spots. It’s a must-win game, although it’s unlikely they’d be catching Montreal in a wild card situation if it came down to it. The Islanders just need two points every game, however they can get them.
