Islanders Kick Off 2023 With Disappointing 4-1 Loss to Kraken

The New York Islanders failed to continue their three-game win streak as they fell 3-1 to the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena.

The Islanders are now 21-15-2 and are on the outside looking in at the moment.

LINES:

Josh Bailey-Mat Barzal-Casey Cizikas
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Hudson Fasching
Ross Johnston-Aatu Räty-Matt Martin

Parker Wotherspoon-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Cory Schneider

GOALS:

Adam Larsson gave the Seattle Kraken a 1-0 lead at 9:53 of the first period as he was left all alone, cutting to the low slot for his fourth goal of the season. Ryan Donato and Daniel Sprong were credited with the assists.

Mathew Barzal tied the contest at one at 17:30 of the first period as he finished off a strong feed by Casey Cizkas at the top of the crease. Cizikas and Josh Bailer were credited with the assists.

Eeli Tolvanen gave the Kraken a 2-1 lead at 3:58 of the second period as he scored on the power play for his third goal of the season. Vice Dunn and Jared McCann were credited with the assists.

Oliver Bjorkstrand gave the Kraken a 3-1 lead at 13:04 of the second period for his fifth of the season as he buried a rebound. Jamie Oleksiak and Yanne Gourde were credited with the assists.

Brandon Tanev scored the empty-net goal with 34.3 seconds to play in the third.

Islanders Effort Lacking

The New York Islanders, after winning three-straight games, did not showcase strong effort in their 3-1 loss to Seattle. They were not hard on pucks, struggled to make key plays and failed to establish their game early.

The Islanders were held to six shots in the first, six in the second, and seven in the third.

What cost the Islanders was their inability to get in on the forecheck early and often, which goes back to the whole effort thing.

Barzal Skates, Scores in Career Game No. 400

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal skated in career game no. 400 on Sunday night. Seattle is a place of comfort for Barzal, who played his junior days for the Seattle Thunderbirds.

And in career game no. 400, Barzal scored his 100th career NHL goal.

Barzal's 100th goal of his career! pic.twitter.com/xavtk2zjAT

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 2, 2023

Sorokin’s Weird Start

New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin had a weird performance against the Seattle Kraken. He made some jaw-dropping saves throughout the contest but also struggled to control his rebounds which led to two Kraken goals.

By no means was the game on Sorokin, who stopped 31 of 34 in the loss.

Just a weird one–but again, not on him.

UP NEXT: The New York Islanders are in Vancouver to take on the Canucks on Jan. 3, with puck drop at 10 PM ET.