New York Islanders Bounce Back With Shootout Win Over Florida Panthers
After back-to-back 5-2 losses, the New York Islanders needed to win against the Florida Panthers. It took a shootout to get the win, but a win is a win.
The New York Islanders needed an answer after poor back-to-back losses to the Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes. So Barry Trotz changed the lines up. And not in a good way.
Cal Clutterbuck was placed on the second line next to Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier. To say confidence of getting a ‘W’ with that lineup was low was an understatement.
First Period
Look, first periods just aren’t the Islanders thing. They just can’t seem to start the game on the right foot. Sure enough, within five minutes they were down by one with Denis Malgin picking up his first goal on the season.
Nine shots one net didn’t result in a goal for the Islanders who left the first frame down by a goal for the third game in a row.
Thankfully, the Islanders have typically been better in the second frame.
Second Period
Within five minutes
put the Islanders on the board thanks to some great work from
bellow the goal line.
When you pencil in Anders Lee on the same line as Mathew Barzal, this is the end product you dream of. The 2017 Calder Trophy winner controlled the puck to create time and space for the 40 goal scorer Anders Lee to snap a great shot from the high-slot.
The Islanders kept the pressure on the entire period, but back up Sam Montembeault kept the Islanders from taking a lead time and time again.
But 17 minutes into the second the Islanders finally found a way through Montembeault, and it came through winger
.
A nice heads up play by Jordan Eberle and an even better finish by Josh Bailey for his fourth point of the season so far.
The second was a more complete effort from the Islanders than we’ve seen since they played the Winnipeg Jets.
Third Period
Did you think the New York Islanders could hold a lead? You’d be wrong.
A wrister from Evgenii Dadonov off the rush would beat Semyon Varlamov glove side to tie the game at two.
The goal came against the run of play as the Islanders were creating more of the opportunities down in the Florida end. Of course, Sam Montembeault would continue to prove to be a thorn in the Islanders side.
Overtime
The New York Islanders had one great opportunity in overtime to get the extra point. Again, Mathew Barzal found Anders Lee wide open on the right side with a great pass. Lee got the one time off, but his stick split under the pressure of the moment.
Classic.
Shootout
All it took was a Brock Nelson goal to get the win. Varlamov stopped all three shooters he faced to get his first win of the season.
Extra Thought
Jordan Eberle left the game early after falling awkwardly in the third.
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Three Stars
1. Anders Lee: 1 Goal, 3 Shots
The captain has two goals on the season now. But importantly, he gets the Islanders on the board in the second period to get things going.
2. Brock Nelson: 4 Shots, 1 Shootout Goal
He didn’t technically score, but he still scored the most important goal for the Isles in the shootout.
3. Semyon Varlamov: 35 saves, 0.946SV%
He finally picked up his first win of the year. He was key to the Islanders victory with big saves throughout the game and in the shootout.