Islanders 4, Sabres 3: Bounce back in Buffalo

Goals from Horvat, Tsyplakov, and Palmieri help the Islanders snap their three-game losing streak.

With Mat Barzal out for this game with an undisclosed injury, Patrick Roy once again had to go to the line blender, putting together a makeshift top line of Lee-Horvat-Pageau to make up for Barzal’s absence.

And after letting in a power play goal halfway through the first period, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking this game was going to go the same way as the past three, but the Islanders put the puck past Devon Levi four times, securing a much-needed win.

Injuries to Mike Reilly and Adam Pelech are major causes for concern though, especially with Reilly likely out long-term after a scary hit.

[Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick | HockeyViz]

First Period

Bo Horvat was fired up early, beating out an icing and getting the puck to Anders Lee who was all alone in front, but Devon Levi made the save.

Levi made two good saves on Horvat after that, too, to keep the game scoreless.

Scott Mayfield took a tripping penalty, but with strong play from Ilya Sorokin, the Islanders were able to kill it… before Adam Pelech took a high sticking penalty almost immediately after. On that power play, a Rasmus Dahlin shot produced a rebound that Dylan Cozens was able to pick up to make it 1-0 Sabres.

But 40 seconds later, Horvat scored to tie the game, with his shot bouncing in off Levi’s pads.

The Sabres picked up the pressure after Horvat’s goal, but Noah Dobson would draw a penalty, sending the Islanders to the power play. The Sabres killed that one, but at the end of the period, Nicholas Aube-Kubel took a high sticking penalty, again drawn by Dobson, so the Isles would start the second on the power play.

Second Period

A Max Tsyplakov slashing penalty a little over a minute in to the period would negate the rest of the power play, and then Kyle MacLean took a tripping penalty, giving the Sabres a 5 on 3, that the Islanders were able to kill.

Shortly after that, Tsyplakov scored to give the Islanders the 2-1 lead.

Alex Romanov took a hit from Jordan Greenway, and immediately went down the tunnel, clearly frustrated that he was dealing with a similar situation to what took him out of the past three games.

Then, Adam Pelech took a shot to the face, and he went down the tunnel as well, holding a towel to his face.

To make matters even worse, Mike Reilly was hit by Greenway and landed hard on the ice, initially not moving following the hit. They brought a stretcher out for him, but he was able to get off the ice with help from his teammates, looking shaken up. It was a scary moment, and we’re all hoping he’s okay and recovers soon.

Alex Romanov came back to the bench after Reilly’s injury.

Bowen Byram took a penalty late in the second, and Kyle Palmieri scored to make it 3-1.

Third Period

Jason Zucker was awarded a penalty shot after Mayfield took him down, but Sorokin saved it. However, just 26 seconds after, at even strength, Zucker makes it 3-2, on a weird deflection.

But just a few minutes later, Bo Horvat made it 4-2, restoring the two goal lead.

With just four defensemen for this whole period, the Islanders managed to keep Buffalo at bay. With four minutes left, the Sabres pulled Levi, and the Islanders had two chances to put the game away but couldn’t put the puck in the net. Sorokin made a good stop after the Isles’ chances, but then Owen Power made it 4-3.

However, the Islanders were able to hold on when the Sabres pulled Levi for the second time, earning the bounce-back win.

Up Next

Next, the New York Islanders head to Madison Square Garden on Sunday to take on the Rangers at 1pm, their first meeting of the season.