It seems like the Islanders really enjoy putting on a show whenever they hit the ice as of late. No matter if it is the back and forth play, the near misses, or the penalties that are unfortunately drawn, fans can never just sit and enjoy an Islanders game. The previous statement can be used to describe Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres.
The Islanders came out strong in the first period. Every shift, it seemed like the Islanders were in the offensive zone, searching for the elusive first goal. Just over five minutes into the first, Buffalo goalie Linus Ullmark decided to keep the puck alive instead of freezing it, and this lead to Anthony Beauvillier scooping up the puck for a no-look drop pass back to the wide-open Michael Dal Colle. Dal Colle found himself lucky enough to bang it home and score his second of the season. Unfortunately, in one of his best games of the season, Dal Colle took a high elbow to the face, and despite finishing out the first period, Dal Colle was ruled out for the rest of the game with an upper-body injury. Towards the end of the first, Ross Johnston found himself on the other side of a cheap hit delivered by Buffalo defenseman Marco Scandella. Johnston immediately grabbed his head in pain, and despite returning, did not play much of the rest of the game. Standing up for Johnston was Josh Bailey, who then was called for a double-minor for roughing. The penalty allowed for a power play to open up the second for the Buffalo Sabres.

Though the Islanders were able to kill off the double minor, they did not have the same luck when Brock Nelson went to the box. Victor Olofsson found the back of the net and tied the game up at one. The rest of the second period didn’t go much better for the Islanders. They only shot the puck on net seven times, and they were not able to convert on three straight power-play opportunities.
Although the Islanders looked stronger in the third period, they still found themselves outshot 13 to eight. Jordan Eberle was able to get the Isles on the board with a goal five minutes into the third period. The Islanders, however, found themselves unable to complete the win in regulation. With less than four minutes left, Mat Barzal lost his temper and went after Jack Eichel. Though the two were going at it evenly most of the night, Barzal finally took it too far and allowed Eichel to draw a penalty to put the Sabres on the power play. Islanders penalty kill struggled to get the puck out of their zone and Eichel was able to connect on the power play and tie it up. Barry Trotz openly stated that he “didn’t like the way we gave up the point,” stating also that it was “an unnecessary penalty.”
When it came to overtime, the main location of the puck was in the neutral zone. Both teams seemed pretty evenly matched for a while; however, after a nice defensive stop in front of Semyon Varlamov, Anthony Beauvillier found himself cruising up the ice and was able to pot it home on Ullmark, clinching a 3-2 victory in overtime for the Islanders.
The Islanders seemed to struggle during today’s afternoon contest. The Islanders seem to be falling into a routine as of lately: get the lead and lose it in the last few minutes of the third, and although the Islanders are coming back and winning the games if they don’t break the habit, it will more than likely lead to a losing streak sooner than later.

David Lazar