Two slightly controversial disallowed goals contribute to an anemic 0-for-8 power play as the Islanders fail to make the most of their chances.
The sad part is the two goals overturned for questionable goaltender interference are maybe not even the most frustrating part of tonight’s game. Yeah, the New York Islanders are missing some real power play weapons at this point. But 0-for-8, along with giving up an unfortunate shorthanded goal… it’s hard to blame the disallowed goals entirely.
The suddenly-healthy Isles defense may have taken a hit, too, as Adam Boqvist left the game early in the second period after a big hit, so they played most of tonight with just five defensemen.
If this road trip is any indication, this might be a rough rest of the season.
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While the first period started promisingly for the Islanders, with an early Drew Doughty tripping penalty, the Kings quickly took over, putting 15 shots on Ilya Sorokin. Late in the first, Vladislav Gavrikov scored to put the Kings on the board.
But the Islanders played a strong second period despite the scoreline. Adam Boqvist went down early after a big open ice hit from Kevin Fiala. No penalty was called on the play despite the hit looking high.
Anders Lee tied the game, going five-hole on Darcy Kuemper with a goal that was fairly un-Anders-like.
But unfortunately, Phillip Danault would get it back for LA immediately, making it 2-1.
Alex Turcotte took a high sticking penalty, and Anthony Duclair scored on the power play, picking up a loose puck after Kuemper’s save on Simon Holmstrom. However, the Kings challenged for goaltender interference and won, taking the goal off the board and helping them kill the penalty.
Joel Edmunson went to the box for a delay of game penalty, sending the Isles to the power play once again, but Tony DeAngelo’s stick broke, setting up a Quentin Byfield breakaway to make it 3-1 Kings.
Then, Lee drew a penalty and scored quickly on the power play, but the Kings won a second goaltender interference challenge, taking that goal off the board, too.
Early in the third, the Islanders were on the power play again when Warren Foegele was called for hooking, but the Kings killed that without any coach’s challenge assistance.
Alex Laferriere was called for hooking halfway through the third, and then Byfield put the puck over the glass to gift the Islanders a 5 on 3 that they couldn’t convert on. Then, Edmunson would put the puck over the glass, giving the Isles a second gift power play, which, even with Sorokin pulled, they couldn’t score on. Drew Doughty ultimately sealed the game with a shot that bounced at the right angle to slide into the empty net, making it 4-1 Kings.
Up Next
Next, the Islanders head home to UBS Arena to take on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night.