clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Lightning 3, Islanders 1 (EN): Lackluster effort in an uneventful loss

The Islanders showed up to play in the last 10 minutes after a Derick Brassard powerplay goal, but the Lightning’s skill would win out.

By Jenny Berman
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images

In a game where neither team really gave much space up, the New York Islanders were undone mainly by their mistakes and lack of scoring. Brayden Point opened up the scoring for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Islanders barely threatened to tie the game up until they got a power play down 2-0 in the third. Derick Brassard would bring the Isles within a goal, and the Islanders would make an effort to tie the game but come up short.

[NHL Gamecenter | Natural Stat Trick | HockeyViz]

Brayden Point opened the scoring just 14 seconds into the second period after Ryan Pulock loaded up a slapshot that missed the net, finding Nikita Kucherov, who sent it to Point on a breakaway. Pulock couldn’t get back in time, and Point shot it past Semyon Varlamov.

Brock Nelson hit the post on a shot, and Pulock was called for delay of game near the end of the period for putting the puck into the stands. The Isles were held to just 13 shots through two periods, but were also pretty solid defensively, successfully killing the penalty. Then, Alex Killorn and Scott Mayfield were called for holding and unsportsmanlike conduct, respectively shortly after the third began, but the four on four ended with neither team scoring.

The Lightning would pull away further after former Bridgeport Sound Tiger Carter Verhaeghe scored on a backhand as he was left basically alone to move in front of Varlamov. Then the Islanders finally got a chance to get back in the game as Nikita Kucherov was called for holding. Near the end of power play, Josh Bailey got the puck to Derick Brassard right in front of Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Brassard tipped it past him.

After the Brassard goal, the Islanders started to put on the pressure, but it wasn’t enough as Steven Stamkos sealed the win for the Lightning with an empty net goal and ending the snooze fest of a disappointing game for the Isles.

Up Next

Next, the Islanders head to Washington, DC to take on the division-leading Capitals on Monday. Hopefully after the embarrassing loss against the Capitals last time the teams met, the Isles will be motivated and ready to play a 60 minute game.