Islanders lose to the Kings 3-2. The Kings now have only two wins this season, 5-2 over the Washington Capitals. The Kings are the oldest team in the National Hockey League. This was a winnable game for the Islanders, who beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in their most recent game. They are plagued by injuries, most specifically to Mat Barzal (who keeps getting delayed as he contends with knee inflammation).
Nevertheless, the Islanders keep getting points and are in third place in the Metropolitan Division just 9 games into their season. That was no different in this game, as the Islanders lose to the Kings 3-2. It seems the defensive structure put in place by head coach Peter DeBoer is working. In their most recent games against the Ducks, they surrendered only seventeen shots. Do you think the Islanders’ defensive resurgence will continue?
Islanders lose to the Kings Summary October 22
The Islanders were hoping to win this game, as it was against one of the weaker teams in the National Hockey League. However, the Kings came into this game off their lone win of the season. For the Islanders, they came into this game hot, having gotten points in their last four games. However, the Islanders lose to the Kings 3-2. Here is how this game played out.
In the first period, Artemi Panarin scored two goals. He always kills the Islanders; remember, he was on the New York Rangers until just before the 2025 trade deadline. That is how the first period ended, with a 2-0 Kings lead.
In the second period, Victor Ecklund scored on the power play for the Islanders. That goal made the score 2-1 for the Kings. However, the power play tally got the Islanders on the board. However, despite that fact, they threatened, but they did not score more; neither team did. The period ended with a 2-1 score.
In the third period, Matthew Schaefer scored his first goal of the season to tie the game at two. That was the only goal scored in the third period.
In overtime, Brandt Clarke scored for the Kings, and the Islanders lose to the Kings 3-2 in this game.
Darche Update on Mat Barzal
Islanders fans are wondering about the return of Mat Barzal to the lineup. Over ten games, the team is doing well. The Islanders beat the Kings in this game. Fans benefited from an update from Matthieu Darche, the general manager. He said Barzal has made “progress every day,” but there is still no timetable for his return.
Barzal has missed the opening ten games of the 2026-27 season; he should miss some more as his return is expected around November 7. He is out with left knee inflammation and has not skated with the team this season. Darsche said Barzal has not sustained a setback in his recovery, and he continues to skate on his own as he works his way back. It appears the chronic condition is making for a slow and difficult recovery.
Darche said, “After the two weeks, we feel the inflammation is down, but we’re still working with it now. It’s about getting his strength back and how comfortable he feels. He’s skating; we progress every day. Can I give you a definite timeline? No. We hope it’s sooner, but at the end of the day, every day he’s starting to skate a bit more, and we’re hoping to at some point get him with the team, and then from there we go from there.” The Islanders are treading water without him; the Islanders lose to the Kings 3-2.
This Game and the Next
The Islanders lose to the Kings in this game 3-2. The player of the game was, was from the Kings, Artemi Panarin scored twice for them in the first period. The Islanders travel to Dallas to take on the Stars Sunday at 6 pm. Their two-game home stand ends for them. The Kings play the Devils at 3:30 on Saturday. The long road trip for them continues.
Conclusion: The Long Road
The Islanders lose to the Kings in this game. The final score was 3-2 in overtime. This was another game against a weak opponent, and at home. With the win, the team extended their point-scoring streak to five games. They beat the Anaheim Ducks in the last game, and they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in the game before that. In the game before that, they got a loser point by making it to overtime and losing 2-1 to the Ottawa Senators. They beat the Vancouver Canucks before that.
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