After a very rough start and a commendable, determined comeback from down 3-1, the Islanders had a point or more in hand as Saturday night’s meeting with the Lightning wound down.
Then came the dagger, as Brand Hagel beat Ilya Sorokin cleanly to break the tie with 1:35 left, then completed his hat trick with an empty netter immediately afterward. Comeback wasted, 5-3 loss in the books, though Pete DeBoer said they “passed quite a few tests” he has in mind as the team gets used to what he wants.
[GameCenter
| Game summary | Event summary | Natural Stat Trick]
Islanders News
- Again, there were positives. but it took a while to get there. [Newsday | Post]
- DeBoer also praised Matthew Schaefer, the special teams and explained why he moved Ondrej Palat up. [Isles | NHL]
As he led the Isles back into the game, there were some outstanding Schaefer highlights, including hisjuggling keep-in leading to Brayden Schenn’s equalizer and this brilliant effort to bring them within one:
Meanwhile, on the shelf: As Mat Barzal works his way back from an injury that has affected him, well, since he first came back, teammates and ex-teammates discuss the mental and physical grind of not being 100%. [Newsday]
Elsewhere
- It’s worst-case for Igor Shesterkin, who’s out for the season. [NHL]
- And now Cutter Gauthier is out for the Ducks. [Sportsnet]
