The New York Islanders bounced back after losing their 10-game win streak, defeating the Florida Panthers 2-1 yesterday. Here’s the game recap.
Mark Pysyk nearly put the Panthers up early, ringing a shot off the post about three minutes in. New York would strike first though, when Brock Nelson got the puck back off a Derick Brassard shot and slid it to Barzal who, instead of simply throwing it on net, had the presence of mind to move the puck to his backhand and put it past Sergei Bobrovsky, who was sliding in the opposite direction.
The rest of the first period was pretty slow. Florida had a chance late in the period on a power play but Aleksander Barkov couldn’t beat Thomas Greiss on a shot from in-close. Florida outshot the Islanders 14-7 but truthfully, only a handful of the shots on Greiss really presented any sort of a challenge.
Greiss had to be good in the second period, however, as Florida had all kinds of pressure on another power play but he was able to stop both Evgenii Dadonov and Mike Hoffman on shots that required him to make the save while moving. Then he absolutely robbed Aleksander Barkov with a pad save on another cross-crease pass. Florida got yet another chance, when Devon Toews turned the puck over in front of the net, Evgenii Dadonov rang a shot off the post, then Brett Connolly came to tap-in the rebound but it was Jordan Eberle who had to sprawl out to make the save. The Islanders outshot Florida 19-8 in the second period but once again I think the stats really didn’t show what was happening, as the Panthers certainly had the better chances.
Florida finally tied the game in the third period on yet another power play when the Islanders deflected a pass in front but it landed right on Barkov’s stick and he just had to tap it past Greiss. The tie-game was short lived though, as Scott Mayfield just threw a shot on net, it deflected off of Brian Boyle, then off of Anton Stralman and went up and over Bobrovsky.
The Panthers looked like they had drawn even once again, as Greiss made a great sliding glove save but the puck popped up and Barkov batted it in– but it was ruled a high stick. They tried to press at the end but couldn’t beat Greiss, as the Islanders hung on for the 2-1 win.
Both goalies were outstanding. Greiss legitimately made four of five saves where he had to slide cross-crease while New York was penalty killing, making 37 saves in the win. Bobrovsky was equally good though and certainly can’t be faulted for either goal, stopping 34 shots as well.
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OTHER ISLANDERS ARTICLES FROM NOVEMBER
Game Recap (Game 15): NYI vs PIT
Game Recap (Game 14): NYI vs OTT
Game Recap (Game 13): NYI @ BUF 
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