The New York Islanders dropped their season opener last night, falling 5-4 in overtime to Utah.
New York’s lineup was as follows:
Anthony Duclair - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Maxim Tsyplakov - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee - J.G. Pageau - Simon Holmstrom
Casey Cizikas - Kyle MacLean - Oliver Wahlstrom
Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov - Noah Dobson
Mike Reilly - Scott Mayfield
Semyon Varlamov
Early in the first period, Utah had the first good chance of the game, with Michael Carcone taking a pass to get a point-blank shot from the slot, but Semyon Varlamov was up to the task. Mathew Barzal then responded with a good opportunity for New York on a 2-on-1, but he was denied by Connor Ingram. Only minutes later, Barrett Hayton did come inches away from opening the scoring with a great shot on a one-timer the other way, but rang it off the post.
However, the Islanders found themselves with the first power play of the game midway through the period and managed to strike first, with Noah Dobson’s shot deflecting in off Anthony Duclair’s skate, putting the Islanders ahead. Utah did challenge for goaltender interference, but it was ruled a good goal, and New York went back to the power play again as a result.
On the ensuing power play, a dump-in ended up taking a wild bounce and popping right out front, but somehow, Ingram was able to get back in time to make a big save on Kyle Palmieri. Bo Horvat then had a good chance on a one-timer shortly after, but Ingram made another big stop.
New York then had another power play late in the frame with a chance to extend the lead, with Horvat getting yet another good opportunity, but he was stopped by Ingram once again. However, late in the period, Utah ended up with their first power play of the frame, where Lawson Crouse took a pass from Clayton Keller in the slot to beat Varlamov, tying the game with only a minute to go in the period.
Ultimately, it was a pretty good opening frame for New York. They outshot Utah 10-6 and had the better chances, but of course gave up a goal on their first penalty kill of the season.
The Islanders kept pressing in the first half of the second period, with some good chances for Maxim Tsyplakov in-close on a rush, then an excellent chance for Brock Nelson where was stopped on a great save from Ingram.
Utah did build a bit of pressure a little past the midway mark of the frame though with a tired Islanders group on the ice, and Varlamov needed to make a good save on Sean Durzi in front. However, only shortly after, Mikhail Sergachev put a hard shot on goal from the point and beat Varlamov, who was too deep in his net, leaving the Islanders trailing.
New York had another power play chance with about five minutes to go in the frame, but couldn’t get a ton going, and exited the frame down 2-1.
However, the Islanders did manage to tie it back up only about a minute into the third period, when Anthony Duclair put a pass out front to Horvat, who beat Ingram.
Then while Utah did end up on another power play about five minutes later, Jean-Gabriel Pageau got to a puck down ice, and put a pass out to Simon Holmstrom, who was denied – but Pageau followed up to bury the rebound, putting New York back ahead with a shorthanded goal
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But on the very same power play only about a minute later, Utah managed to tie it right back up, with Clayton Keller sending a great pass over to Dylan Guenther, who ripped a one-timer past Varlamov to make it a 3-3 game.
The Islanders did have a golden opportunity from there though, with a four-minute power play courtesy of a high-stick on Anders Lee. While they had some chances, they weren’t able to convert on the man advantage, and the game remained tied with a little under seven minutes to go.
Anthony Duclair did have a really good opportunity with about four minutes left, but just couldn’t convert. However, with just two minutes to go, the Islanders came down ice with a 3-on-2, where Brock Nelson fed Maxim Tsyplakov, who beat Ingram with a well-placed shot to put the Islanders up 4-3 with limited time left.
But while the Islanders looked to be in a great spot, only 13 seconds later, Utah came down ice and Noah Dobson got completely lost on his coverage, for Josh Doan to take a pass and slide a puck through Varlamov with a deke, immediately tying the game right back up, and sending it to overtime.
Varlamov had to make a stop on Logan Cooley in the first minute of overtime, before Clayton Keller had an opportunity in front, but was denied.
However, a little later, Noah Dobson turned the puck over in the offensive zone, with a 3-on-1 going back the other way, where Guenter took a pass to beat Varlamov from point-blank range, winning it for Utah.
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It’s a really disappointing result for New York, in a game where they did play pretty well. The Islanders looked really good through the first half in particular, and were carrying the play through good chunks of the game.
In terms of the positives, it may only be one game, but the Islanders’ top-six looks more dangerous than it has been in a really long time. Both of the top two lines were clicking last night, and the additions of Anthony Duclair and Maxim Tsyplakov make a big difference. Each had a goal in the loss, and both of the top two lines felt more threatening with Duclair/Tsyplakov on the wing.
At the same time, the same issues that plagued the team last season were present last night. The Islanders once again 1) couldn’t kill a penalty, allowing a goal on both of the two power plays they gave up and 2) couldn’t hold a lead. Again, it’s one game, but it’s tough to see the same issues coming up.
Meanwhile, the Islanders' power play went 1-for-6. While they did generate some good chances on most of their opportunities, it's still a special teams battle lost.
The Islanders also didn’t get much from the bottom-six at even strength. The two bottom lines were outshot by a combined 9-3 margin at 5-on-5, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.
Meanwhile, Noah Dobson may have had two assists, but he also had some noticeable defensive lapses. He was largely responsible for both the tying goal, and the overtime winner.
Semyon Varlamov also didn’t have his best night. There weren’t necessarily any goals you could fault him for, but he couldn’t come up with timely saves, while Connor Ingram, while not perfect either, came up with some pretty big stops for Utah.
I think there are a lot of positives to draw from the game, and the Islanders do at least take away at point. At the same time, in a home opener where they had a lead against a team who didn’t reach the playoffs last season, that’s one that you’d really like to see them be able to lock down and win.
The Islanders will be back in action on Saturday, when they face the Dallas Stars to open a three-game road trip.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER
- Can the Islanders take a step forward this season?
- Islanders announce roster, Pierre Engvall clears waivers
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