New York Islanders

Rapid Recap: Islanders Collapse, Fall 5-4 to Coyotes

Published

1 year ago

December 17, 2022

TEMPE, AZ–The New York Islanders got off to a strong start against the Arizona Coyotes, but failed to play their game as they collapsed in the second and the third, falling 5-4 at Mullet Arena.

The Islanders are now 17-12-1.

LINES:

Anders Lee-Mat Barzal-Oliver Wahlstrom
Josh Bailey-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Kyle Palmieri
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Robin Salo-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

GOALS:

Sebastian Aho gave the New York Islanders a 1-0 lead at 1:41 of the first period as after Josh Bailey won a board battle, Brock Nelson sent the puck up the boards to Aho who rifled it home for his third of the season.

Mathew Barzal gave the New York Islanders a 2-0 lead as he poked home a puck behind Arizona Coyotes netminder Karel Vejmelka for his fourth of the season at 13:33 of the first period. Robin Salo and Oliver Wahlstrom were credited with the assists.

Shayne Gostisbehere got the Coyotes on the board as his point shot beat a screened Ilya Sorokin for his seventh goal of the season. His goal was unassisted.

Clayton Keller tied the contest at two at 8:55 of the second period via a wrist shot from the top of the slot. Nick Schmaltz and Barrett Hayton were credited with the assists on his 11th of the season.

Nick Bjugstad gave the Coyotes a 3-2 lead at 9:09 of the second period via a one-timer. His seventh goal of the season was assisted by Josh Brown and Matias Maccelli.

Noah Dobson scored his 10th goal of the season as he tied the game at three with 2:15 to go in the second via a shot from the point. Zach Parise was credited with the assist.

Travis Boyd buried his own rebound at 2:08 of the third as the Coyotes took a 4-3 lead. Jakob Chychrun and Nick Schmaltz were credited with the assists.

Keller scored his second of the game at 14:49 of the third to give the Coyotes a 5-3 lead. Schmaltz and Chychrun were credited with the assists.

Anthony Beauvillier scored sixth of the season to make it a 5-4 game with 1:39 to go in the third. Wahlstrom and Barzal were credited with the assists.

ISLANDERS START STRONG

The New York Islanders have put together much stronger starts recently, but they had not been rewarded early. But against the Arizona Coyotes, not only did the Islanders start strong, but they scored 1:41 into the contest, courtesy of a Sebastian Aho blast.

Aho nets the first shot on net! 1-0 #Isles pic.twitter.com/vCqdr5Y5bI

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) December 17, 2022

That was the first time the Islanders had scored first since Dec. 4, a 3-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at UBS Arena.

From then on out, the Islanders dictated play.

They doubled their lead with around 6:30 to play in the period, allowing a goal with under a minute to play after a strong showing by the penalty kill unit.

Islanders Collapse in the Second, Early in Third

Despite taking a 2-1 lead into the second period, the New York Islanders fell apart in the middle frame.

In a span of 14 seconds, the Coyotes had taken a 3-2 lead as all the Islanders could just do was watch–which they did.

What saved the Islanders was their bench door breaking after the Coyotes’ third goal, and after that, the Islanders refound their game and got the score even before the period came to a close.

Early in the third, after tying the contest late in the second, the Islanders just took a play off.

As Travis Boyd cut to the front of the net, Sorokin made the save, and they just watched as Boyd buried his own rebound.