The New York Islanders lost their third game in a row and the strong start to the season has suddenly turned into a rough patch. They lost to the Colorado Avalanche 7-4 in a game where they looked outmatched and overwhelmed. At 2-2-1, they not only look like a team that is falling apart but a team that isn’t going to contend in the Eastern Conference.
The recent game had its bright spots. Cal Clutterbuck, Anders Lee, and Simon Holmstrom scored their first goals of the season. The offense scored four goals, a threshold they’ve only eclipsed once before the loss to the Avalanche (interestingly, in the Oct. 20, 5-4 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils). Lastly, goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves including some highlight-reel stops to keep the game as close as it was.
However, the loss was ultimately one that raised concerns about the Islanders and whether they will be a playoff team this season. The Avalanche are a team that will make a lot of teams look bad and at 6-0, they are one of the elite teams in the NHL but the Islanders, especially on the defensive end of the ice, looked like a team that could see their season unravel quickly as it has in the past week.
Islanders Mistakes Cost Them
The Islanders stumbled out of the gate, giving the Avalanche momentum just minutes into the first period. Anders Lee and Brock Nelson both committed penalties under six minutes into the game, giving the opposition two power play opportunities and an easy goal. By the end of the first period, the Islanders trailed 2-1 and were trying to catch up in the second.
Even with a strong second period where the Islanders scored two goals and took a 3-2 lead, they managed to unravel. With under a minute left in the period, they allowed the Avalanche to score and 13 seconds later, another goal left the Islanders trailing 4-3 as they went into the third period. Miscues and turnovers in the defensive zone along with missed assignments provided the Avalanche with multiple scoring chances and with their high-powered offense, they took advantage.
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Despite the poor play, the Islanders had a chance to come back in this game and possibly upset the top team in the Western Conference. Late in the game, with the team trailing by a goal, they were given a four-minute power play. Seconds into the man advantage, Mathew Barzal took a boarding call to take two minutes out of the power play and all but negated the advantage. The Islanders struggled to capitalize on the power play and two empty-net goals allowed the Avalanche to pull away with a 7-4 victory.
The Islanders look like an undisciplined team, something they haven’t been in a while. It’s one of the issues that could cost them on a nightly basis as they allow opponents to find quick scoring chances and throughout the season, it’s something that could leave them on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.
Defensive Unit Woes Continue
Noah Dobson had two assists on the night and still managed to end up minus-3 by the end of the game. The plus/minus stat is a deceiving one and not a fair way to evaluate a player’s performance (simply, it punishes good players on bad teams who have a lot of ice time and bigger roles but aren’t receiving a lot of help). However, Dobson’s stat line spoke volumes about how the night went for the defense, which oddly enough, contributed at the offensive end of the ice for the first time in a while.
The defensive unit played poorly against the Avalanche, to put it lightly. There were a lot of missed assignments and the team struggled to move the puck out of the defensive zone, allowing the opponent to control the puck and create second-chance shots. The Islanders allowed 40 shots on goal and it’s a reflection of the defensive unit’s inability to create turnovers and prevent the opposition from controlling the game.
Scott Mayfield remains out of the lineup as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury. What initially was a day-to-day issue is becoming a week-to-week injury. With the way the defense has played, Mayfield can’t return soon enough. He won’t turn the unit around but he will provide stability on the defensive end of the ice, something the unit has been lacking in recent games.
Islanders & Avalanche Show Gap Between Good & Elite Teams
This game was a reminder that even when the Islanders are at their best, they can only go so far. The Avalanche meanwhile embarrassed them but are a team that will be doing that to a lot of teams this season. They look like a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup and after winning it all in 2022, the Avalanche look poised to win their second title in three seasons.
It wasn’t just how the two teams played but the skill at each position stood out as well. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, two star forwards, combined for two goals and three assists. Cale Makar, arguably the best defenseman in the NHL, scored a big goal to close out the first period and added two assists. The Avalanche saw their defense step up from the point and score two goals which are more goals than the Islanders’ defense has had all season.
The 7-4 loss is a tough one to digest but the Islanders are going to bounce back from it and compete for a playoff spot. The problem is that competing for a playoff spot looks to be the ceiling. They don’t look like a team that will compete for the Cup and this game was a reminder of that.
Clutterbuck & Holmstrom Provide Positive Offensive Outlook
A question heading into the season was how the third and fourth lines would perform. There’s a considerable dropoff after the top two lines and the Islanders need more offensively from their later lines to have a successful season.
Before the game started, head coach Lane Lambert moved Holmstrom to the Jean-Gabriel Pageau line. The move bumped him off the top line and by reducing his role, the decision paid off. He scored his first goal of the season and formed great chemistry with Pageau who added two assists in the game. Holmstrom found the back of the net with a quick wrist shot from the high slot and with a pass-first skater centering his line, he suddenly has a path to becoming a reliable scorer.
Holmstrom showed his upside for the first time in his career. Clutterbuck on the other hand stole the show and turned back the clock with his performance. He deflected the puck into the back of the net for the Islanders’ first goal of the game and he also added an assist. Clutterbuck has regressed as a scorer and injuries have set him back in recent seasons but the recent game showed that he’s still capable of adding a spark to the offense if needed.
Other Takeaways From The Islanders’ Loss
- Lee’s goal tied the game in the third period and was a great play from the captain as he stole the puck in the offensive zone and quickly fired it into the net. It was his first goal of the season and one that could get him going in the upcoming games.
- Sorokin had a rough game but one that had plenty of great moments come with it. He allowed five goals and couldn’t bail the Islanders out but he made 35 saves including some highlight-reel stops. Even in a rough game, he managed to prove that he’s one of the league’s elite goaltenders.
- The power play scored another goal and did so with Barzal finding Kyle Palmieri near the net on a great play from both skaters. The unit only scored once but the goal could be a sign of good things to come from a power play that was hapless last season.
What’s Next For The Islanders?
The Islanders face the Ottawa Senators who are also looking to bounce back after a rough 6-4 loss on Oct. 24 to the Buffalo Sabres. Both teams have looked promising a few games into the season but have also displayed weaknesses that are not only concerning but could derail their seasons. It’s early in the season, but the upcoming game is shaping up to be a crucial one for both the Islanders and the Senators.
For the Islanders, it is one where they hope to bounce back and snap their losing streak. They’ve lost three games in a row and Sorokin, a Vezina Trophy-caliber goaltender, has allowed five goals in each of his last two starts. The Islanders look vulnerable and opposing teams are starting to exploit their weaknesses. The next few games are where they can get back on track and remind everyone why they are worthy of making the playoffs.
