Islanders Lack of Discipline, Defensive Blunders Lead to 5-3 Loss to Rangers

NEW YORK, NY– The New York Islanders could not sweep the season series against the New York Rangers as a failure to stay disciplined, along with a failure to lock down defensively, led to a 5-3 loss at Madison Square Garden.

The Islanders are now 18-14-2 on the season.

LINES:

Anders Lee-Mat Barzal-Oliver Wahlstrom
Josh Bailey-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Simon Holmstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Hudson Fasching

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

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

GOALS:

Anders Lee gave the New York Islanders a 1-0 lead at 12:48 of the first period as he banked the puck off New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren and in for his 11th of the season. Alex Romanov and Noah Dobson were credited with the assists.

Artemi Panarin tied the score at one as he rifled a one-timer on the power play for his ninth goal of the season at 17:14 of the first period. Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox were credited with the assists.

Mathew Barzal beat Shesterkin on the backend on a strong breakaway move to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 2:39 of the second period for his fifth of the season. Josh Bailey was credited with the lone assist.

Julien Gauthier got behind Islanders defenseman Robin Salo and beat Ilya Sorokin through the wickets for his fifth of the season to tie the contest at two. Barclay Goodrow was credited with the lone assist at 5:30 of the second.

Alexander Romanov scored his first goal of the season as his slap shot from the point beat Shesterkin through a screen at 8:45 of the second period. Barzal was credited with the lone assist.

Barclay Goodrow tied the contest at three as he deflected a point shot for his eighth of the season at 3:00 of the third period. Gauthier and Ben Harpur were credited with the assists on the goal.

Kaapo Kakko gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead with 2:43 to play in the third period as he buried a centering pass from K’Andre Miller for his ninth of the season.

Vincent Trocheck scored on the empty net with 1:42 to go in the third.

Islanders Get Off to Sloppy Start

One could say the New York Islanders were fortunate to escape the first period tied at one. They were outshot 9-5 and struggled mightily to break out of their own zone. Their biggest issue was in the neutral zone, as they had difficulty transitioning.

Not only that, but they took three penalties in the opening twenty, which allowed the New York Rangers to tie the contest at one.

The Islanders turned the puck over five times in the first and the Rangers, who are speedy, are not the team you want to turn the puck over to.

Ilya Sorokin had no chance on the Artemi Panarin goal but bailed the Islanders out a few times, especially while shorthanded, with a few key blocker saves.

Islanders Struggle to Stay Disciplined

The New York Islanders could not stay out of the box on Thursday night. They made six trips on the night and despite killing off five of six, being shorthanded that often drained the Islanders.

Alexander Romanov and Scott Mayfield each took two penalties, with Anders Lee and Noah Dobson recording the others.

Because of their need to be on the kill, the Islanders did not produce nearly enough offensively, with just 18 shots on goal against Shesterkin, who was not that sharp tonight.

Romanov Scores First With Islanders

The New York Islandes sole player acquisition this summer, Alexander Romanov, has laid the body, blocked the shots, and notched a few assists over his first 33 games with his new club.

However, Alexander Romanov had yet to light the lamp in blue and orange despite 42 shots on goal.

That changed on Thursday night.

Gotta See It: Alexander Romanov Scores First Goal With Islanders

Up next: The New York Islanders host the Florida Panthers at UBS Arena on Friday night, with puck drop at 7:30 PM ET.