The first period was an overly sluggish start for the Isles. By extremely sluggish, I mean they were outshot 11-0 for the first 17 minutes of the game. Compared to the first three games of the season, which saw the Islanders finishing the first period with 10-16 shots on the net, this was an alarming sign for the game from the start. Though the game would start physically, the Devils wasted no time getting pucks to Sorokin, as they registered eight shots in the game’s first five minutes. Captain Anders Lee would take a tripping penalty 2:15 into the game and send the Devils to an early power play. The Isles would kill this penalty successfully. The orange and blue would wait nearly 15 minutes to get their first power play opportunity, but they were unsuccessful. There was a valiant effort to generate momentum at the 13:19 mark, where a combination of the “Identity Line” along with JG Pageau and Kyle Palmieri would register six hits in less than a minute. However, nothing would come from this as the Devils went back to work pounding shots at the Islanders netminder. Noah Dobson would register the first Islander shot, and the period would end three minutes later. The final shot total for the period would be 15-3 in favor of New Jersey. To say the Islanders were lucky to escape the frame scoreless would have been an understatement.
Almost nothing changed to start the second period, as the Islanders came out flat-footed and got burned by Jack Hughes on a breakaway to give the Devils a 1-0 lead. You would think that going down a goal would make the Islanders show signs of urgency to even the score. However, as they continued their sluggish hockey, this was far from the case. Ondrej Palat would make the game 2-0 at the 8:09 mark of the frame. Both the Islanders and Devils would get chances on the power play in this period, thanks to a Brendan Smith tripping call at the 14:37 mark and an Anders Lee high stick at 15:56. Both teams were again unsuccessful.
The third period followed the same trend as the first two—lack of urgency and lack of pucks to the net. The Islanders again found themselves on the kill from a Cal Clutterbuck cross-checking call but would complete the kill. Ondrej Palat would net his second of the game at the 15:28 mark to extend the Devils lead further to 3-0. Adam Pelech and Dawson Mercer took offsetting roughing minors at 15:42 to bring the game to four on four hockey. Anders Lee would be the lone goal scorer for the Islanders as he tip-in a goal at 16:44 during five-on-four hockey with Ilya Sorokin pulled from his crease. The Islanders would take a timeout shortly afterward, but it had no effect. Nico Hischier would sink the empty netter, allowing the Devils to skate away with a 4-1 victory in UBS Arena.
I wish there were more to write about for this game, but it was a horrendous 60-minute effort from the Islanders. The energy and urgency from the puck drop we saw in the first three games this year did not translate into tonight’s game. To conclude the game, the Islanders were out-shot by the Devils 43-17, a total flip-flop from what the Isles have shown to start the year.
Without Ilya Sorokin tonight, this game would have been a blowout to forget for New York. Sorokin stood on his head all night, stopping all 15 Devils shots in the first period alone to give the Islanders a fighting chance to get back into the game. Though Sorokin took the loss in this one, he should eat no blame for this loss in any way.
Mat Barzal did find his way back onto the score sheet in this one, tallying an assist on the lone Anders Lee goal late into the third. The Devils were able to match his speed tonight and, in some instances, beat out his speed. This still was one of Barzals better games, as for the first time this season, he did not register a giveaway, despite finishing a -1 in nearly 20 minutes of ice time.
Tonight was woeful for all members of the defense. Combining a -6 rating and five giveaways, this will likely be a game to forget for them. However, there were some bright spots as they would combine for 13 blocked shots and ten hits. Then again, when a team is constantly firing shots on the net, some are bound to hit off a defender at some point. Right places, right times maybe?
Josh Bailey was in his Halloween costume early this year, as he was a ghost yet again. No points on one shot, along with a giveaway. At this point, it’s just getting sad. I wouldn’t be so willing to beat him up this early in the season if it wasn’t the same song and dance with him every year. As a veteran in the locker room and a leader on the ice, it’s fair to expect more from him in what is now his 15th NHL season with the Islanders.
Kyle Palmieri has his best game this season, registering his first point of the season. Though he would finish a -1, Palms found his way near the puck all night, registering two shots, a blocked shot, and five hits. Far and away the most involved he has been this season so far. On top of all that, he was 100% in the faceoff circle.
The Islanders will look to return to the win column this Saturday night as they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Amalie Arena at 7 PM EST.
