It was an astonishing performance from the Islanders on Saturday, November 9 at home in Elmont, New York. The undermanned Islanders lost 4-3 to the more skilled Devils. The astonishing Islanders are a great defensive team, with excellent goal-tending who cannot score right now. The ‘Islanders are missing their injured players with 2/3 of the top line out and also three of the top six defensemen.
With the injuries to Mat Barzal and Anthony Duclair, as well as three of the top six defensemen, the astonishing Islanders are doing a good thing with certain players getting a chance to play. Young players, like Isiah George, are getting valuable National Hockey League experience.
Holmstrom Scores for the Second Consecutive Game
Belaugered Islander forward Simon Holmstrom scored a goal in the second consecutive game. As he is getting regular playing time with injuries to Mat Barzal and Anthony DuCair, he needs to take advantage of the opportunity. Holstrom is and that is good to see, this is also a must for the Islanders. Holmstrom will make the astonishing Islanders’ fourth line stronger if he continues to play well. Holmstrom also got an assist.
Islanders No Power Plays
In this game, the astonishing Islanders did not have the advantage of going on a single power play. Credit the New Jersey Devils for playing a clean game, but the Islanders could have used that advantage because of the deficit in talent between the two teams. It is puzzling that the referees did not call any penalties on the New Jersey Devils, they committed them.
On the flip side, the Islanders allowed one power-play goal in two chances. The Islander special teams, particularly the penalty kill, struggle mightily. It remains a mystery how such a good defensive team is so bad on the penalty kill. The Islanders are only killing 67% of the power plays they face.
It is not Brocktober Anymore
Two players who need to play well with all of the Islander’s injuries are Brock Nelson and Noah Dobson, they are two of the more skilled Islander players.
Brock Nelson scored 31 goals last year goals for the Islanders. He scored 5 goals for the Islanders in October, so many that Islanders fans joke the month is called ‘Brocktober.’ He did score a pretty goal in the game against New Jersey but only has 6 goals so far this year. With Mat Barzal and Anthony DuClair out for the Islanders, Brock Nelson must score more often. He has a great opportunity before him.
A much more disappointing player for the Islanders is Noah Dobson. Dobson was almost named the best defenseman in the National Hockey League last season, and many thought he would take a step forward for the Islanders this season. Not so much. In the early going of this season, Dodbson has no goals and six assists. With all the injuries the Islanders need Noah Dobson. He must be more prolific for the Islanders now. He too has a huge opportunity before him.
Scoring Summary
Simon Holmstrom scored first for the Islanders, scoring the only goal in the first period. That goal gave the astonishing Islanders a 1-0 lead after the first period. Jack Hughes scored on the power play in the second period to even the score. It is mystifying how such a good defensive team could be so poor on the penalty kill.
In the third period, Denis Cholowski and Brock Nelson scored for the Islanders within one minute and fifty-six seconds of each other, giving the Islanders a three-one lead. Cholowski’s goal was his second and only the second all season by an Islanders defenseman. Dawson Mercer scored for the Devils cutting the Islanders lead to 3-2. Stefan Noesan scored for the Devils with 50 left and Jack Hughes scored for the Devils in overtime.
The Islanders Squander Another Third-Period Lead
Like a broken record, this game was another third-period collapse for the Islanders, astonishing the hopeful fans. This time, the Islanders blew a 3-1 lead in the last half of the third period. New Jersey scored the game-tying goal with just fifty seconds left in the game.
Conclusion
The undermanned Islanders needed to score points in this home game, but they cannot be faulted. The New Jersey Devils are a more skilled team than the Islanders. The skill of the Devils was evident watching the game. The upcoming schedule, for the New York Islanders, is very difficult. First, they travel to Edmonton and take on the Oilers on November 12, then Vancouver to face the Canucks on November 14. On Saturday, November 16 they will face the Kraken in Seattle.
