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The New York Islanders suffered their third loss in a row last night, falling 7-4 to the Colorado Avalanche.
Anders Lee moved up to the top line with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal for the Islanders, while Oliver Wahlstrom moved down to the fourth line, and a returning Simon Holmstrom played alongside Jean-Gabrel Pageau and Cal Clutterbuck. Meanwhile, Ilya Sorokin got the start.
While Cale Makar had the first good chance of the game, cutting through the Islanders’ defense but narrowly missing the net in alone, the Avalanche capitalized on a power play opportunity shortly later, as Mikko Rantanen put a puck over to Ryan Johansen, who beat Sorokin with an off-speed shot.
Brock Nelson took a penalty only shortly after that, and Nathan MacKinnon had an excellent chance to extend the lead, but Sorokin made a wild paddle save. Simon Holmstrom did then get a great chance to tie the game shorthanded off a pass from Jean-Gabriel Pageau after that, but couldn’t convert. The chaotic back-and-forth continued, with Sorokin making a huge toe save on Ross Colton on the same power play.
Then despite the Islanders just hanging on through the first half of the period, Cal Clutterbuck managed to tip in a point shot from Noah Dobson at the midway mark of the period, tying the game. However, just a few minutes later, Cale Makar came in on goal down the wing and beat Sorokin with a great backhand shot, putting Colorado back ahead. MacKinnon then had a chance shortly after when Samuel Bolduc got caught up ice, but Sorokin made another good save.
Mathew Barzal had an opportunity afterwards from the slot but things did quiet down from there, as the Islanders found themselves down 2-1 through 20 minutes and being outshot 17-6. Despite New York being down (and allowing far too many chances in the frame), it was at least as exciting of a period as you could’ve asked for.
The Islanders had a power play early in the second period though and made it count, as Kyle Palmieri took a pass from Mathew Barzal and walked off the line to beat Georgiev, tying the game. Then only a few minutes after that, Simon Holmstrom managed to rip a wrist shot past Georgiev for his first goal of the year, giving the Islanders their first lead.
New York couldn’t capitalize on a power play after that despite a few good chances, and then Sorokin made a massive breakaway save on Ryan Johansen, after a turnover by Alexander Romanov. Barzal then missed a point-blank chance from the slot off a one-timer from Bo Horvat, before the teams traded unsuccessful power play opportunities.
However, with less than a minute to go in the frame, Bowen Byram beat Sorokin with an excellent shot, coming down from the point to beat Sorokin through a screen to tie the game. Then only 13 seconds after that, Cal Clutterbuck couldn’t handle a puck in the Islanders’ end and coughed it up to MacKinnon, who scored to put Colorado back ahead 4-3.
It was a much, much better second period for New York, with the team arguably generating more high-danger chances in the frame than they’d managed in a single period to this point in the season. But despite that, the late goals in the final minute of the frame left the Islanders down.
New York was able to tie the game once again early in the third period though, with Anders Lee winning a battle off Ryan Johansen on a great individual effort, and beating Georgeiv. However, only minutes later, Adam Pelech’s shot was blocked and the Avalanche went back the other way, with Tomas Tatar getting a great pass over to Mikko Ranatanen, who put Colorado back ahead 5-4.
The Islanders did end up on a four-minute power play thanks to two separate minor penalties for Tatar shortly after, but a penalty for Mathew Barzal quickly negated a good chunk of the man advantage. While New York did have some chances late, including a one-timer for Barzal and a good tip from Anders Lee, Johansen buried an empty netter for the Avalanche, before an own goal from Brock Nelson with the goalie pulled again, as the Islanders fell 7-4.
It’s a disappointing loss – things looked a little bleak after the first period for New York, but they really did put together an excellent middle frame, and were really taking the play to Colorado throughout the second period. But allowing two late goals like that in the final minute of the period stung, erasing all the good they’ve done to pull ahead throughout that period.
Sorokin may have allowed five goals, but he was also the only reason New York wasn’t completely out of it through 20 minutes. The Islanders were allowing all kinds of chances, many of which Sorokin had no business stopping, and he still played well despite the loss.
The Islanders also didn’t struggle to generate offense themselves, which is a plus, and it also can’t be forgotten that Alexandar Georgiev was off to an excellent start to the season coming into the game. Scoring has remained a consistent issue for New York, and managing four goals against a very good team and a goalie playing great isn’t insignificant.
The new lines also worked fairly well. An extended look at using Anders Lee with Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat could be the best way to go, with more than one scoring option on the line. They outshot opponents 7-5 while on ice together at 5-on-5, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.
The new-look third line of Simon Holmstrom and Cal Clutterbuck centered by Jean-Gabriel Pageau also scored twice and worked well. I think we’d need a longer look to see if it can be more than a temporary group, but it could at least work for now.
That said, after really strong defensive efforts through the first two wins of the year, it’s a little concerning to see the Islanders give up the chances they have over the past three games. The Avalanche were killing New York with their speed last night, and despite being in the game, the Islanders really struggled to reduce chances.
They’ll be back in action tomorrow against the Ottawa Senators, and it’ll be a good test. The Senators are struggling, and it’s an opportunity to get back on track.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER
- Islanders announce 23-man roster
- Ross Johnston claimed off waivers by Ducks
- Islanders start the season strong with win over Sabres
- Islanders shut down Coyotes for 1-0 win
- Islanders give up four power play goals, fall to Devils in overtime
- Islanders’ loss to Sabres marks first dud of season 
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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