New York Islanders Lose in Shooutout to Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 (Highlights)

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

The New York Islanders would get a loser point against a tough Chicago Blackhawks team in the shootout and go into the break on a loss.

Going into the All-Star break after the game, the New York Islanders just wanted to make sure they didn’t lose any momentum on the season.

With five wins in a row the New York Islanders are one of the hottest teams in the NHL and sit at the top of the Metropolitan Division with a few points in the bank above the Capitals and Blue Jackets.

With a Capitals overtime loss earlier in the day to the San Jose Sharks a win for the Islanders would put them four points clear at the top of the Metropolitan.

First Period

It took a total of two minutes for the New York Islanders to get on the board. On a broken play off the face off the puck fell to Valtteri Filppula who walked the puck the few feet to the net and wrists it past Cam Ward.

With the back-to-back shutouts that the New York Islanders were working on at that point a single goal might be all the Islanders need to get a win.

The rest of the first would play our without a goal but the Islanders would dominate play. The Hawks got what seemed like second in the Islanders zone.

Second Period

The Islanders fourth line has been one of the Isles best lines this season. But five minutes into the second period they lost heir heads which resulted in Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin both taking simultaneous minors.

During the resulting 5-on-3 the Blackhawks scored through Dylan Strome who’s been a totally different player since coming to Chicago with 19 points in 26 games. Not to worry Mathew Barzal wasn’t going to let us down.

A minute and a half later he had the New York Islanders. The goal came thanks to a good defensive play by Barzal getting in a shooting lane after blocking the shot he took the puck up the ice on a breakaway and past Ward on the backhand.

Jonathan Toews would put in a second Hawks goal on the power play. The Hawks passed the puck around with ease on the man advantage before Toews batted out of the air and into the net.

Third Period

For periods of the third period it looked like the Blackhawks were the better team on the ice. During a few offensive possessions they bandied the puck around the Islanders zone like no one was there.

If not for Robin Lehner that game wouldn’t have made it to overtime.

The Islanders played well in the final frame with over 56 percent of the possession.

Overtime

Overtime always beings excitement. This time it was Robin Lehner with a big stop on Patrick Kane off of a breakaway. And then it was Nick Leddy with the defensive play of the season.

Again Kane was in on the breakaway, Leddy wasn’t having it. Leddy is seemingly shot out of a cannon and catches up to Kane and knocks him off the puck.

The game would go to the shootout where the other Toews and Patrick Kane would get the extra point for the Hawks.

Three Stars

1. Robin Lehner: 38 saves, 0.950SV%

Again, Robin Lehner was a huge reason that the New York Islanders were able to get something out of this game.

2. Nick Leddy: Defensive play of the year

What a play by Nick Leddy in overtime. The defenseman made a jaw dropping play on Patrick Kane to keep his team fighting for the extra point.

3.Mathew Barzal: 1 goal

Barzal gave the Islanders the lead back with a breakaway goal after a Dylan Strome goal at 5-on-3.