NY Islanders let another game slip away late in 4-3 loss to Buffalo Sabres

The New York Islanders came up just short Tuesday night, falling 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabres in a back-and-forth game that slipped away late.

Calum Ritchie and Anders Lee each had goals while Bo Horvat drove the offense with three assists. Brayden Schenn scored with one second left, and Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves in the loss.

“Last game we gave up eight goals, so, I mean, you want to make sure you play well defensively, and our tracking was outstanding,” Isles coach Patrick Roy said after the game. “I thought we did a good job, and we played a tight playoff hockey game, and it was a hard-fought game. I thought both teams had some good looks, and both teams played well defensively.”

After Lee tied the game 2-2 in the third period, the Islanders looked poised to grab at least a point. But a late defensive breakdown proved costly, as Peyton Krebs capitalized on a feed in front with just over three minutes remaining to restore Buffalo’s lead. The Islanders pressed for the equalizer, but Bowen Byram sealed the game with an empty-net goal with 1:43 left.

“This was a big game, but I mean, you got to learn from it, got to make better adjustments,” Matthew Schaefer said. “At the end, I mean, if that (third goal) doesn't go in, it's still a tie game, and we're pushing… at the end of the day, it's a playoff push. We need every point.”

The Islanders remained in third place in the Metro thanks to a regulation loss by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Isles next play on Friday night at home against the Philadelphia Flyers, a team that only trails them by three points in the standings.