Alex Lyon shuts out the Isles, whose offense remains bone dry.
There were more games in the NHL on Tuesday night than the Islanders conceded shots in theirs, but that didn’t matter because the Isles were shut out for the second time in three games and the third time in this young season.
They largely had the better of tight play against the visiting Red Wings, but Detroit made their first shot of the game — one of 10 total — stand up to hand the Isles a 1-0 loss on Long Island.
The Islanders tied a team record in conceding only 10 shots, while Alex Lyon stopped 29 at the other end. Lyon was definitely a big part of the story, but he was not stand-on-his head great. The team in front of him helped prevent second chances as the Isles repeatedly had difficulty penetrating the interior for any length of time.
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First Period: This is gonna be tight
The Islanders had the better of play in a not exactly riveting first period, but the Red Wings got the only goal. It came midway through the period on their first shot, with Patrick Kane set up for a one-timer from the left wing circle that he labeled to the top corner. The Red Wings didn’t get another shot — their only other one — until 90 seconds left in the period, but they checked the Isles tightly and mostly prevented good chances.
The Isles’ best chances came on a Bo Horvat forecheck that forced a corner in the slot. New linemate Simon Holmstrom picked it up and used his long reach to attempt a sweeping deke, but Alex Lyon was there. Holmstrom retrieved the rebound and sent a pass across for Mat Barzal, but it was deflected away.
Second Period: Power play shows signs of life…
Detroit had a dangerous opportunity to double their lead early in the second, but Mike Reilly was called for hooking Lucas Raymond, who may have actually lost his footing while attempting the move. (Either way, both Reilly and Barzal looked guilty, desperately reaching their sticks in as Raymond wiped out or was pulled down.)
But the penalty kill did well to make the next two minutes a non-threat. Shortly after the successful kill, Max Tsyplakov had a prime chance missed in front and then Alex Romanov set up Mat Barzal at the back door, but Alex Lyon was there for a dramatic glove save.
The Isles got their first power play after Anders Lee endured a series of chops and holds by Ben Chiarot. And the new-look unit, minus injured Anthony Duclair and without Barzal, created some dangerous looks after starting with a couple of one timers. J-G Pageau, Lee, Kyle Palmieri and Noah Dobson moved the puck well and horizontally, but Lyon blocked the in-close redirect from Lee. With the next unit picking up the remainder, Brock Nelson hit the post and just missed another try.
The Isles had another power play with some good work but no paydirt in the final three minutes. They reached the second period outshooting the Wings 22-8.
Third Period: Ehhhh…
The Red Wings locked it down in the third, and the Islanders frustratingly picked the worst time to have their worst power play of the game. With 5:29 left on the clock the Isles won the opening faceoff to the power play, then spent the next two minutes failing to gain re-entry after Mike Reilly bobbled the puck out of the zone.
A pull of Ilya Sorokin for a sixth attacker yielded the same — clear after clear by the Wings and not a sniff of the net by the Isles.
There may be some things to take from this game, but the biggest is that scoring is officially a struggle for this team right now. And with Anthony Duclair out long term, they need to find an answer.
Up Next
The Isles stay in the neighborhood with a visit to the Devils on Friday followed by hosting the Panthers on Saturday night.